Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 December 2022
89. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the progress or otherwise in the implementation of the National Space Strategy for Enterprise 2019-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60490/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, my Department published Ireland’s first National Space Strategy for Enterprise in 2019. The vision of the strategy is for Ireland to develop an economically sustainable and expanding space-active industry, delivering quality jobs for the economy of tomorrow.
The Strategy is built on the 5 pillars of: investment; strengths and opportunities; governance; attract and develop talent and international engagement. Since the launch of the Strategy significant progress has been made on these pillars.
The number of Irish based companies engaged with the European Space Agency (ESA) has increased by 39% since the publication of the Strategy and has grown from 87 in 2020 to 97 to date. Irish based companies engaging with ESA support programmes also increased; in 2021 16 start-up companies secured ESA contracts, 6 of which have previously worked with the ESA Business Incubation Centres in Ireland. Industry co-investment also increased in recent years from €3.3m in 2020 to €4.7m in 2021.
There have also been three All-Ireland Space Industry events held, the most recent in May of this year which focused on promoting opportunities for industry, particularly SMEs in Ireland and Northern Ireland active in the downstream Space market. In October, my officials also led an Irish delegation, which included 10 Enterprise Ireland supported companies, on a visit to ESRIN – the ESA’s Centre for Earth Observation.
The terms of the UN Outer Space Treaty and Liability Convention were also approved by Dáil Éireann this year, ensuring that Ireland now has a supportive framework in place for any future launches of space objects for commercialisation or educational purposes. The Government also entered an Exchange of Letters with the ESA to facilitate the launch of Ireland’s first satellite EIRSAT-1, which is designed and built by UCD, in early 2023.
These developments demonstrate the significant progress that has been made by this Government to implement the National Space Strategy for Enterprise. We are supporting the growth of a strong and economically sustainable space active industry and research base in Ireland offering innovative solutions to the space sector and other downstream markets. The involvement of 2 Irish based companies and researchers at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies in the historic launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, also validates our world-class scientific and technical capabilities in the Space Sector.
