Skip to main content
Normal View

Enterprise Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 December 2021

Thursday, 9 December 2021

Questions (119)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

119. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the policy instruments that are in place and available to Enterprise Ireland to stimulate industry in remote rural areas; if he plans to introduce other instruments in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60445/21]

View answer

Written answers

Enterprise Ireland (EI) helps companies across the country, in rural and urban settings to start, innovate and remain competitive in international markets, now and into the future. In 2020, EI assisted client companies employed 220,613 people nationally. Almost two thirds of the new jobs created in 2020 were in regions outside of Dublin.

The Local Enterprise Offices continue to provide a first stop shop to individuals who want to start or grow their micro enterprise in every county. Regional enterprise development and sustainable local job creation is a key policy priority of mine and this Government.

The Government has provided funding to assist enterprise development and regional jobs growth. For example, my Department’s Regional Enterprise Development Fund, Border Enterprise Development Fund, and recent Regional Enterprise Transition Scheme has allocated over €126 million across 79 enterprise strengthening projects in every region over a series of competitive calls since 2017, through Enterprise Ireland. These Funds enable significant collaborative and innovative regional projects to provide a timely impetus to job creation in regional locations.

My Department is currently overseeing the development of nine new Regional Enterprise Plans to 2024 and it is intended to publish and launch the Plans in early 2022. These are ‘bottom-up’ plans, developed by regional stakeholders working together to identify growth opportunities, recognise vulnerabilities and address ecosystem gaps, to enable sustainable job creation across the regions through collaborative actions. The new Plans to 2024 will complement and build on the core activities of the IDA, Enterprise Ireland, the LEOs and the wider range of State Bodies involved in enterprise development in the regions.

Top
Share