Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 May 2022
193. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to create additional working hubs for further employment in rural areas; if he will consider the creation of employment in the Youghal area in east Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25532/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnterprise Centres and working hubs provide affordable physical workspace for businesses across the country and deliver training and soft supports to their tenants and other companies in their locality and regional area while providing facilities for remote working, helping start-ups to scale internationally and attracting small scale FDI.
To date, my Department has provided funding of €250 million administered by Enterprise Ireland to assist the establishment of some 270 Enterprise Centres throughout Ireland.
In 2022, an additional €5 million in funding will be available to Community Enterprise Centres though the Regional Enterprise Innovation and Scoping Scheme. This Scheme builds on existing regional initiatives and aims to target grant aid at projects which will improve the resilience and international competitiveness of enterprises across all regions.
Substantial funding will also be made available up to 2027 for regional enterprise projects under funding from the European Regional Development Fund and the Shared Island fund.
In addition, a further €12 million in funding administered through Enterprise Ireland has been sanctioned to assist with the completion of projects under the Regional Enterprise Development Fund and Border Enterprise Development Fund grant Schemes that have been delayed or interrupted due to increased construction and construction-related costs.
Nationwide there is a broad range of other hub-type facilities, both publicly and privately funded, including Community Enterprise Centres and incubator/accelerators that are being considered by the National Hub Network Working Group in their mapping of a national network of remote working facilities. The Department of Rural and Community Development, which leads on this mapping initiative, has also invested significantly in remote working infrastructure & connectivity through the Broadband Connection Point Network initiative including the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Leader Programme.
In addition, the first allocation of €3 million in Budget 2022 was announced for the European Digital Innovation Hubs as part of the EU Digital Europe Programme which will provide over time a total of €13.4 million in funding to Ireland focused on bringing digital technology to businesses, SMEs, citizens and the public sector.
The creation of employment in all regional locations, including East Cork and the Youghal area, is a priority for my Department and this Government. Enterprise Ireland job figures for 2021 show that over 200,000 people now work in Enterprise Ireland client companies with a net increase in employment of almost 12,000 jobs. I am particularly pleased that jobs growth occurred in all regions with almost 70% of new jobs growth occurring outside of Dublin.
