Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 July 2025
76. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the measures taken to advance an entrepreneurial spirit and culture over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36286/25]
View answerEntrepreneurs are vital to the success of the Irish economy. The continued growth of our economy is highly dependent on entrepreneurs and the businesses that they create, develop, and grow. Government recognises this and has played a central role in fostering entrepreneurship through policy and financial support for agencies like Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs). Under its 2025–2029 strategy, Delivering for Ireland, Leading Globally, Enterprise Ireland aims to support 1,000 new startups, with a strong focus on scalable, export-driven businesses. We have provided funding, mentorship, and training programs including seed capital, innovation vouchers, and supports for high-potential startups.
Over the past five years, Enterprise Ireland has undertaken a wide range of initiatives to foster a strong entrepreneurial spirit and culture across the country. Central to this effort has been a strategic focus on supporting start-ups, encouraging innovation, and promoting regional economic development. Through its collaboration with LEOs, Enterprise Ireland has helped thousands of entrepreneurs access funding, training, and mentorship. In 2024 alone, over 1,300 start-ups received support, including many high-potential start-ups in sectors such as fintech, medtech, and sustainability.
Job creation has also been a key outcome of these efforts. Enterprise Ireland-backed companies created a record 12,000 net new jobs in a single year, with 68% of these located outside Dublin, highlighting Government’s commitment to balanced regional growth. Innovation has been another cornerstone, with over €2.2 billion invested in research, development, and innovation (RD&I) under the 2025–2029 strategy. This has strengthened ties between academia and industry, helping to drive innovation-led entrepreneurship.
In July 2024, Minister Burke launched the National Enterprise Hub (NEH) which brings together information and support on over 250 government supports from 30 different Government bodies. The NEH is an all-of-government service, staffed by expertly trained advisors making is easier for entrepreneurs to access the wide range of available government supports.
The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) also play an extremely important role at local level, as part of a supportive ecosystem, providing their services direct to small businesses and promoting entrepreneurship within towns and communities across the country. LEOs are the first stop shop for every business in the country.
Last year Minister Burke lunched the LEO Policy Statement 2024 – 2030, this outlines how, through a variety of programmes and campaigns, LEOs foster a strong entrepreneurial culture and promote enterprise nationally. Above all, there is an emphasis on a consistency of approach across the LEO network and a clear intention to show that LEOs are, and remain, the first stop shop for all businesses regardless of sector.
Over the 11 years since the formation of the LEOs, and in the years before then as the County Enterprise Boards, the Local Enterprise Offices have actively promoted self-employment as a viable option for people with a businesses idea and have been there every step of the way to assist small businesses to start-up and grow.
I wish to assure the Deputy that my Department, its agencies including Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices remain committed to supporting entrepreneurs helping them to grow and thrive.
