Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 March 2018
417. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the projects mentioned in the National Development Plan 2018-2027 that come under her Department's remit or bodies under its aegis; and the estimated completion dates for each project in tabular form. [12983/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Development Plan 2018-2027 sets out the significant level of investment which will underpin the National Planning Framework (NPF) and drive its implementation over the next ten years. One of the National Strategic Outcomes of the NPF is the achievement of a strong economy, supported by enterprise, innovation and skills.
Over the lifetime of the National Development Plan, my Department and the agencies under its aegis will maintain their focus on developing a competitive, innovative and resilient enterprise base to ensure that jobs and employment opportunities are available to people in all regions of the country.
Earlier this month, my Department also published Enterprise 2025 Renewed, which sets out the medium term national enterprise strategy, and how we intend to achieve a vision of making Ireland the best place to succeed in business. A number of short, medium and long term strategic actions to support delivery of these objectives are included in the National Development Plan and will be progressed over the lifetime of the Plan, subject to detailed appraisal, value for money tests, consultation with relevant stakeholders and agreement on timeframes. As these aspects are developed further, details will be set out in the strategies of my Department and the enterprise agencies over the lifetime of the NDP.
Some projects and programme areas identified in the NDP, where my Department has a lead interest include;
- New Regional Sectoral Clusters to scale and internationalise enterprise in all regions
- New regional “Technology and Innovation Poles”, led through the Institutes of Technologies
- Brexit Business Transformation through firm level supports
- A National Design Centre
- Seed and Venture Capital Funding to support regional start-ups and growth
- eHubs for entrepreneurship and start-ups in every county
- Expansion of Advanced Manufacturing Supports, linking centres and capacity across all regions
- Expanding Enterprise Ireland budget for research and development
- New cycles of the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions, benefiting Higher Education in all regions
- Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund
- Participation in EU High Performance Computing Programme
- Upgrading of the Tyndall National Institute in Cork
- New Space Technologies Programme, to the benefit of firms in the regions
- Membership of CERN
- Strengthened SFI Research Centres and EI Technology Centres in higher education in all regions
- Support for research, guided by Innovation 2020 – Ireland’s Strategy for Research and Development Science and Technology
- Expanding IDA Regional Property Programme, to attract investment to regions
