Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 September 2025
41. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the supports being put in place to attract new employers to County Meath and the surrounding region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50676/25]
View answer47. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if there are specific zones or industrial parks planned for County Meath to accommodate growing demand from businesses and enterprises looking to relocate outside of Dublin into feeder and satellite towns in bordering counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50685/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 47 together.
Regional development is a key element of our national enterprise policy, as set out in the Programme for Government and the White Paper on Enterprise, and is a key focus of the work of my Department and its agencies. In this regard, IDA Ireland has reaffirmed its strong commitment to regional development as a core pillar of its 2025–2029 strategy, 'Adapt Intelligently: A Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Innovation'. This ambitious strategy aims to secure 550 investments outside Dublin, accounting for 55% of all planned investments to 2029. Likewise, Enterprise Ireland remains firmly committed to driving balanced regional development as a cornerstone of its 2025–2029 strategy 'Delivering for Ireland, Leading Globally'. Enterprise Ireland aims to grow employment in client companies to 275,000, with a strong emphasis on regional job creation and scaling indigenous businesses across all counties.
IDA’s strategy focuses on partnering with the existing FDI base to retain and renew their Irish operations alongside an ongoing focus on identifying new opportunities associated with FDI growth drivers including AI & digital, semiconductors, sustainability and health. In practical terms this means supporting clients to increase the competitiveness of their Irish operations through investment in RD&I, digitalisation, talent development and sustainability. Grant support totalling c€4.8m was provided to IDA clients, and c €5.9m to EI clients in Meath in 2024.
The IDA Mid-East Region, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow, is home to 82 IDA client companies employing 16,700 people, 16 of which are in Meath, employing 3,047 people. Enterprise Ireland has 207 plants employing 9,034 people. IDA Ireland continues to deliver a competitive property offering to attract FDI and support the growth and expansion of domestic clients within the Enterprise Ireland portfolio and Local Enterprise Offices (LEO) clients. In that regard, I am advised that there are approximately 97.22 hectares of available lands across IDA Business Parks in the Mid-East region, with c. 17.9 hectares of lands available in IDA’s Navan Business and Technology Park.
IDA continues to work with regional stakeholders and the private sector on opportunities to add to the supply of competitive property solutions in the Mid-East Region. Under its current strategy IDA has committed to deliver an Advance Planning Permit for an Advance Building Solution in Meath in partnership with Meath County Council and continues to engage with Meath County Council in respect of the proposed design and site location.
Innovative, ambitious start-ups are the bedrock of the Irish economy and will form the foundations of future enterprise success. Enterprise Ireland, in partnership with the 31 LEOs including Meath LEO and the wider enterprise and innovation ecosystem, aims to stimulate and foster the next generation of Irish enterprise successes by supporting ambitious start-ups to access finance, build capacity, and grow domestically and internationally. Enterprise Ireland is an active member of the Mid-East Regional Enterprise Plan process which has brought together stakeholders in the Mid-East to develop initiatives focused on driving enterprise growth in the region and continues to invest in supporting infrastructure, innovation hubs, and collaborative projects that strengthen regional enterprise ecosystems. The Boyne Valley Food Hub in Meath which opened mid 2023 is one such example.
The 2025 New Frontiers programme for the Midlands & Mid-East Region, funded by Enterprise Ireland to support local start-ups and managed on behalf of Enterprise Ireland by TUS in partnership with Maynooth University, attracted 103 participants this year, 14 of which have been selected to progress to Phase 2, from October. The programme supports high potential start-ups from the Midlands & Mid-East counties with mentoring, hot-desk space and a €15,000 stipend to allow exploration of their new business idea.
The Mid-East region has a mature FDI ecosystem within Technology, Life Sciences, International Financial Services, and Engineering & Industrial Technologies sectors and the IDA is actively engaged with client companies in the county, focusing on supporting their existing operation as well as attracting new investment opportunities. IDA continues to market Meath as a location for further investment utilising its global network of overseas offices. There is also a strong focus on the food sector and food businesses in Meath, and the Boyne Valley Food Innovation District, Meath Enterprise Centre and the local County Council are strong promoters and supporters of this eco-system within the county.
Remote working and local job creation are a key focus with respect to the high amount of county residents commuting to Dublin each day. Conversely, Meath also captures some business from Dublin companies looking for more space and lower rents close by.
Based on all of the above, I have every confidence that Meath will remain an attractive location for both foreign and domestic investment and continue to be a thriving entrepreneurial hotspot well into the future.
