Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 February 2024
79. 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 County Donegal in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5780/24]
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.
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.
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.
My Department oversees the implementation at national level of nine Regional Enterprise Plans, which facilitate regional stakeholders to work collaboratively to identify growth opportunities, recognise vulnerabilities, and in response strengthen the regional enterprise ecosystem. Donegal, along with Sligo and Leitrim, is covered by the North-West Regional Enterprise Plan.
This Government has provided substantial funding to assist regions to support enterprise activity, promote regional growth across the country 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 last October I 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 Donegal and the North-West to apply for this funding; the regional team in Enterprise Ireland is ready to work with potential applicants.
