Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 June 2025
75. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment how the southeast regional enterprise plan has acted to ensure that the green economy becomes an engine for future job creation and economic growth in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33051/25]
View answerBalanced regional development remains a Government priority. One central aim of the White Paper on Enterprise 2022-2030 is to support balanced regional enterprise development. My Department and its agencies contribute to this agenda in several ways, including through the nine Regional Enterprise Plans (REPs).
These are bottom-up plans developed and led by regional stakeholders, which focus on collaborative initiatives to strengthen the enterprise ecosystem in each region. The South-East REP outlines five key strategic objectives in this regard – including driving green growth. The Plan is working to ensure that the green economy drives future job creation and economic growth in several ways including supporting the development of green enterprises, leveraging renewable energy opportunities, and promoting skills programmes. Some of the initiatives supported by the Plan in this context include:
• Establishment of the South-East Offshore Wind Partnership, which is enabling engagement between the ports, airport, local authorities, industry and enterprise agencies alongside the education and training bodies to ensure that the opportunities presented by offshore wind are realised.
• Through the Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme, €1 million in funding has been secured for Greentech HQ's new business accelerator programme, Business Advantage and Sustainability South-East (B.A.S.S.E). This initiative will provide SMEs with the tools, mentorship and strategic frameworks needed to scale successfully and sustainably.
• There is ongoing engagement with key stakeholders on green skills including the South East Technical University (SETU), the Regional Skills Forum, education and training boards (ETBs), and the Engineering the South-East Cluster. A baseline assessment of green skills requirements based on 2030 targets has been undertaken and a range of courses on sustainability have now been developed in response. These are being delivered by a range of providers including SETU, ETBs and Skillnet Ireland.
• The REP Programme Manager participates on the South-East Regional Skills Forum, which has sustainability as an ongoing agenda item. The Forum monitors industry requirements and is steering a strategic approach to regional green skills.
• South-East stakeholders inputted to the national Offshore Wind Skills Action Plan 2024. They also work to promote awareness and take up of the range of supports available through the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) network including the Green for Business Scheme and the Energy Efficiency Grant.
• The Engineering the South-East Cluster is continuing to develop its partnerships with many of the agencies and service providers in the region including IDA Ireland, Greentech HQ, the LEOs and the ETBs. Offshore wind is a key focus for the cluster with a number of skills, research, and supply chain initiatives in this area.
The current REPs run from 2022 to the end of this year and the Programme for Government contains a commitment to publish and resource new plans. Building on progress to date, these will be informed by several factors including an independent review of the REP initiative currently underway, a Regional Enterprise Policy Statement to be published later this year, and stakeholder consultation. This process should lead to formulation of new Regional Enterprise Plans ready for launch in early 2026.
