Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2026
1028. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the initiatives being undertaken to support enterprise development and commercial occupancy in the town centres of Macroom and Millstreet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57014/26]
View answerSupporting enterprise development and job creation in County Cork remains a priority for my Department and its agencies. Through Enterprise Ireland, the Local Enterprise Offices, IDA Ireland and regional enterprise initiatives, significant supports are being provided to indigenous businesses, start-ups, innovators and foreign direct investment companies across the county.
Enterprise Ireland is actively advancing enterprise development and investment in Macroom and Millstreet and the wider Cork region through a combination of direct company supports, start-up development, innovation funding and regional enterprise initiatives.
Enterprise Ireland is also nurturing entrepreneurship through targeted supports for early-stage and high-growth companies. The Pre-Seed Start Fund and High Potential Start-Up Fund have collectively awarded €3.6 million to Cork-based start-ups and scale-ups across 2024 and 2025. The New Frontiers programme, delivered through the Rubicon Centre at Munster Technological University (MTU), further strengthens the start-up ecosystem by providing structured support, mentoring, and funding to early-stage entrepreneurs.
The Local Enterprise Offices (LEO) in Cork also play a key role in supporting micro-enterprises and small businesses. In 2025, the three Cork LEOs supported 620 client companies employing 3,200 people. These companies recorded 615 gross job gains and 382 gross job losses, resulting in a net increase of 233 jobs.
Enterprise Ireland’s broader strategy aims to support 1,000 new start-ups and 1,700 new exporters nationally by 2029, with Cork playing a pivotal role. Through its international office network, EI is helping local businesses access global markets and scale internationally. They are also supporting sustainability and digital transformation through the Green Transition Fund and Strategic Company Development Grants, enabling businesses to adopt new technologies, reduce emissions, and improve operational efficiency.
IDA Ireland has reaffirmed its strong commitment to regional development as a core pillar of its 2025–2029 strategy, Adapt Intelligently. This ambitious strategy aims to secure 550 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects outside Dublin, accounting for 55% of all planned investments. The overarching goal is to create 75,000 new jobs nationwide and generate a projected €250 billion in economic impact.
The South-West Region, which includes the counties Cork and Kerry plays a key role in this strategy and is promoted by IDA. The region is home to 245 IDA client companies, employing 53,535 people, the largest concentration outside of the Dublin region. Notably, employment among these companies has grown by 17% over the past five years, reflecting consistent and sustainable FDI performance.
The South-West has a significant ecosystem of well-established companies across Technology, Life Sciences, International Financial Services, Engineering & Industrial Technologies. To support the South-West region, IDA Ireland operates an office in the city of Cork, working closely with local stakeholders, including City and County Councils, to attract new investment.
IDA Ireland doesn’t just focus on attracting new investments; it also provides ongoing support to existing clients. This assistance includes support for research and development, upskilling, and talent development, all aimed at helping companies transition to more sustainable, digital business models thereby improving efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, and integrating companies more deeply into the local economy.
Balanced regional development remains a Government priority. My Department and its agencies support this objective through a range of initiatives, including the Regional Enterprise Plans (REPs). The South-West REP, ran between 2022 and 2025, covering counties Cork and Kerry and worked to leverage the established strengths of the region in relation to food, agri-tech and tourism and strengthen the business environment in areas such as skills and digitalisation. Initiatives supported through the REP include the Impact Hub at the Crann Centre and the IT@Cork technology cluster.
My Department commissioned an independent review of the REP initiative in 2025. The findings of this review, together with the final progress reports for the current REPs, will inform the future approach to regional enterprise development and help ensure continued support for job creation, competitiveness and sustainable economic growth in County Cork and across the South-West region.
