Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 June 2023
41. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline the work being carried out by his Department and related agencies to support SMEs in the Border region wishing to export; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31586/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2022, Enterprise Ireland, in total, provided funding of over €10.9 million to 343 client companies, employing 23,330 people in the Border Region.
In January 2020, my colleague, then Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD, announced an economic stimulus package for the border areas. This Package applies to counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth, and is designed to drive enterprise capability across these counties and to face the challenges of Brexit and transition to a low carbon environment.
Through the Border Enterprise Development Fund (BEDF), Enterprise Ireland has to date approved over €18 million to 11 projects across all border counties.
The Louth-Meath Education and Training Board also received BEDF funding for the advanced manufacturing training centre of excellence to address the skills needs in the high value manufacturing and technology sectors in the region by providing more modular and flexible training courses that can be used to upskill and reskill the existing workforce.
In that regard, the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence (AMTCE) commenced in September 2020 and has developed and marketed a full suite of training programmes.
Also under BEDF funding, the Manorhamilton Innovation and Development CLG established an Innovation and R&D Centre for the quarry and construction industry focusing on robotics and cobotics, artificial intelligence and smart data, virtual and augmented reality, 3D industry printing and software development to develop new prototypes or products and to upskill staff, within both industries.
InterTradeIreland (ITI) is also helping SMEs gain the knowledge, skills and capability to access the cross-border market. ITI is supporting businesses to establish and grow exports within their flexible and tailored business supports such as the Acumen programme which helps businesses recruit and part-fund a sales professional to identify new opportunities and win new sales in the cross-border market. ITI’s new Trade Export Pathway, targets first-time and early-stage exporters and will help them grow cross-border trade.
Furthermore, the recently launched Cross-Border Trade Hub contains the latest information for businesses engaged in, or planning to engage in, cross-border trade between Ireland and Northern Ireland, including tendering workshops and mentoring to help SMEs to tender successfully for contracts in the all-island public procurement market.
