Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 June 2023
18. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the regional enterprise development fund will be open for new applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31325/23]
View answerThe Government has provided substantial funding to assist regions to support enterprise activity, promote regional growth and create jobs.
The Deputy will be aware that my Department has secured up to €145 million to 2027 from the European Regional Development Fund which will support projects aligned to my Department’s Regional Enterprise Plans.
The draft Scheme, the ‘Smart Regional Enterprise Innovation Scheme', will be aimed at accelerating economic growth in all regions of the country by delivering on the potential of local and regional enterprise strengths.
The draft Scheme will build on initiatives previously funded under the Regional Enterprise Development Fund and Border Enterprise Development Fund and support new collaborative and innovative regional projects. This activity will align with the outcomes of the nine Regional Enterprise Plans and Ireland’s Smart Specialisation Strategy around digitalisation and green transformation goals for industry.
The draft Scheme also builds on lessons learned from previous regional funding schemes and will include different streams to support different types of project; it is proposed to include streams on large strategic change projects, expansion of existing projects, clustering initiatives and feasibility/priming funding.
Before the first call under the Fund can be launched, a number of approvals must be secured, namely from the European Commission, the Regional Assemblies, who are the Managing Authorities of the ERDF, and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.
Enterprise Ireland has been engaging with the Regional Assemblies and the European Commission for a number of months on the eligibility and Scheme content. While discussions are taking longer than anticipated, for example to consider the Scheme content, these discussions are nearing conclusion.
I can assure the Deputy that I am keen to announce the first call of €35m under the ERDF and get the funding out to the regions as soon as possible, and I hope that we can announce the new call in the coming months.
