Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
578. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on the action being taken by the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to support new businesses and jobs to the Border counties Cavan and Monaghan and the greater Border region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38831/23]
View answerThere are 73 IDA Ireland supported companies in the border region (Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, and Monaghan) that collectively employ 8,885 people. There are 17 IDA supported companies in Cavan and Monaghan, collectively employing 1,223 people.
The FDI performance in the region has been strong over the past five years with employment among IDA clients increasing by 6% in 2022, reflecting strengths in Engineering & Industrial Technologies and Medical Technologies sectors. The most recent investment announcement was in March 2022, when California head quartered Ultra Clean Holdings Inc. announced an Advanced Technology Cleaning Centre in Cavan, which will create approximately 100 jobs when fully operational.
Key to the border region’s success is strategic collaboration with national and local stakeholders on the enhancement of the regional value proposition for FDI. In this regard, IDA Ireland welcomes the significant funding that Cavan and Monaghan have received under the Urban Regeneration Development Fund (URDF) to date which will add to the placemaking successes and the value proposition of both counties.
IDA is targeting 25 investments for the border region in the period 2021 to 2024 and will continue to actively promote Cavan and Monaghan as part of the wider Border value proposition. The agency will build on the strengths and competencies of the region and take advantage of opportunities in emerging technologies and business models, including home and hub working.
IDA Ireland has recently completed the construction of an Advance Building Solution in Monaghan which it is actively marketing to potential FDI clients and as part of its current strategy “Driving Recovery and Sustainable Growth 2021 to 2024. The agency also plans to deliver an Advance Building Solution in Cavan. This proposed Advanced Building solution has received planning permission and is currently at phase 1 of the tendering process.
IDA Ireland will continue to work closely with existing clients across the region to retain and strengthen their presence through transformation as well as pursuing new areas of opportunity and is working with Enterprise Ireland and its indigenous base of companies to identify synergies and collaborative opportunities, to build value chain linkages and to advance clustering.
Enterprise Ireland is also focused on strengthening regional enterprise and job creation and is working with regionally based partners through the Regional Enterprise Plan Steering Committees, and related funding streams, to drive increased enterprise collaboration, clustering and network development.
In 2022, Enterprise Ireland made payments of over €10.9m to client companies (€17.9m including infrastructural clients), employing 26,416 people in the border region. Under the Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) and the Border Enterprise Development Fund (BEDF) Enterprise Ireland is supporting 22 projects, €37m investment, in the 6 border counties to build on sectoral strengths and capability and drive job creation, scaling and export potential.
