Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 February 2022
38. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps that he is taking regarding job creation and enterprise in counties Roscommon and Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6947/22]
View answerMy Department, through Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, and the LEOs, provide assistance to companies in every county of Ireland to start and scale, innovate, and remain competitive in international markets.
Focusing on Galway, in 2021, 8,122 people were employed across 215 Enterprise Ireland client companies. 1,056 jobs were created resulting in a net increase in employment of 714.
In addition, 94 IDA supported companies are established in Galway City and County, employing 22,801 in total. The city of Galway is a crucial part of the West’s attractiveness to FDI.
Between 2019 and 2021 Enterprise Ireland paid €33 million to their client companies in County Galway. These investments have helped companies enhance productivity and resilience, drive new entrepreneurship, develop urban centres of growth, and support the expansion of scaling companies in the county.
LEO Galway provided priming and business expansion grants supporting 277 businesses across Galway County and city creating 221 jobs in 2021. The total employment in these businesses amounts to 1,187 jobs.
LEO Galway provided additional funding in new grants during 2021 to 24 businesses, with a total of 234 jobs associated with these projects. In addition to the 24 clients financially supported in 2021, an additional 1,493 businesses received training, mentoring advisory and management development supports.
This Government, through Enterprise Ireland, has also funded infrastructural projects to assist enterprise in County Galway. Between 2019 and 2021, over €8.6 million has been paid toward infrastructural projects in County Galway. This investment facilitates new collaborative and innovative initiatives that can make a significant impact on enterprise development in the region, across regions or nationally.
Focussing on Roscommon, in 2021, 1,684 people were employed by 34 Enterprise Ireland client companies. During 2021, 154 new jobs were created resulting in a net increase in employment of 102 people when losses are taken into account. In addition, 10 IDA supported companies employ 1,473 in total.
In 2021 940 people were employed in 167 LEO Roscommon supported businesses with 104 net jobs created. 17 Roscommon businesses received LEO Measure 1 grants in 2021 with 73 job commitments associated with Priming and Business Expansion grant approvals. In addition, 42 Roscommon businesses received Trading Online Vouchers. LEO Roscommon provided Start Your Own Business training to 111 people across 7 courses in 2021.
Over €3.2 million has been provided to Enterprise Ireland client companies between 2019 and 2021. These investments have helped companies in County Roscommon to innovate, to invest in capital equipment, and to create new jobs in the county.
Additionally, over €66,000 has been paid in infrastructural grants to County Roscommon between 2018 and 2021. This investment helps to assist start-ups, micro-enterprises, and small business providing physical space for remote working initiatives.
I understand that Roscommon County Council has just completed the sale of 16 sites where 12 businesses have been established creating over 50 jobs. Funding has been approved for the development of Monksland Innovation Hub which will commence refurbishment in 2022 and will create over 50 jobs in 2023.
