Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 February 2024
23. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline the funding and job creation measures his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department have undertaken in Killybegs, County Donegal for each year of the lifetime of the current Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5781/24]
View answerSince taking office, this Government has made regional development a priority. My Department and its agencies have contributed to this effort through funding and job creation measures all across the country, including in Donegal and Killybegs.
This approach is guided by the White Paper on Enterprise, which sets out the Government’s approach to enterprise policy for the period to 2030.
The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), play an important role at local level as part of a supportive ecosystem, providing services directly to small businesses and promoting entrepreneurship. The LEOs are the first-stop-shop for every business in the country and provide a ‘signposting’ service for all government supports. The results in Donegal LEO have been very positive, with year-on-year increases in the number of assisted clients and total jobs since 2020.
Employment in Enterprise Ireland client companies in Donegal was 3,479 in 2023. The total number of jobs created was 287, with a positive net jobs result of 140 in a very challenging year for businesses. Enterprise Ireland has also funded the Killybegs Marine Cluster under the Regional Technology Clustering Fund and has been working closely with key stakeholders including the Atlantic Technological University to develop it further; funding for the cluster has been extended until February 2025. The North-West Regional Enterprise Plan also includes an action to develop the regional blue economy linked to the Marine Cluster based in Killybegs.
With regard to FDI, regional development is at the centre of IDA Ireland’s strategy. In Donegal there are 22 IDA client companies employing 5,036 people. From 2018 to 2023 over €21 million in grant support was approved for IDA client companies in Donegal. IDA continues to pursue new opportunities for FDI including across the Green Economy. IDA will continue to collaborate with stakeholders, including Donegal County Council, to pursue emerging opportunities offered by Offshore Renewable energy and the role that Killybegs harbour might play in supporting this.
This Government has provided substantial funding to assist regions to support enterprise activity, promote regional growth and create jobs. My Department has provided over €126 million in funding various schemes to support enterprise development and regional jobs growth. The North-West region of Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim has secured €15.5 million in funding under these schemes with Donegal securing €4.7 million for two projects.
With regard to new funding, the Deputy will be aware that I recently launched the Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme worth €145 million and co-funded under the European Regional Development Fund. This Scheme will support projects aligned to the Regional Enterprise Plans. The first call of €35 million is now open and there will be further calls in the coming years. I urge projects from Killybegs, Donegal and the North-West to apply for this funding.
