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Enterprise Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 September 2021

Wednesday, 15 September 2021

Ceisteanna (92)

Joe Flaherty

Ceist:

92. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the Midlands Regional Enterprise Plan. [43825/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Regional enterprise development and sustainable local job creation is a key policy priority of mine and this Government.

My Department is currently overseeing the development of nine new Regional Enterprise Plans to 2024.

These are ‘bottom-up’ plans, developed by regional stakeholders which will identify growth opportunities, recognise vulnerabilities, and enable job creation across the regions including in the Midlands region through collaborative regional actions.

The new Midlands Plan to 2024 which covers Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath will build on the core activities of the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs and the wider range of State Bodies involved in supporting enterprise development in the region.

I am driving the delivery of the new Plan in the Midlands and I have engaged directly with the Midlands Regional Steering Committee made up of regional stakeholders and chaired by Dr. Anne Cusack, Managing Director of Critical Healthcare throughout 2021.

The regional stakeholders in the Midlands region are currently working to finalise focused Strategic Objectives for their region, and actions to deliver on these objectives and intend to sign off on the new Midlands Plan in the coming weeks.

Once this has been done it is my Department's intention to publish all these new Plans including for the Midlands region, in quarter 4 this year.

Finally, my Department through Enterprise Ireland has made available €0.5 million in Feasibility Funding with grants of up to €50,000 on a 50% match fund basis through the Regional Enterprise Transition Scheme which can be leveraged to develop nascent initiatives emerging from the Regional Enterprise Plans. A closing date of October 1st 2021 applies to this funding.

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