Martin Daly
Ceist:31. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a new western regional enterprise plan will be published soon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21734/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 1 May 2025
Ceisteanna (31, 44, 56, 61, 65, 69, 79)
Willie O'Dea
Ceist:44. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a new mid west regional enterprise plan will be published soon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21533/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Aisling Dempsey
Ceist:56. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a new mid-east regional enterprise plan will be published soon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21402/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Erin McGreehan
Ceist:61. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a new north east regional enterprise plan will be published soon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21719/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Ceist:65. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a new south east regional enterprise plan will be published soon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21405/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra
John Lahart
Ceist:69. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a new Dublin Regional Enterprise Plan will be published soon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21584/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Michael Cahill
Ceist:79. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a new south west regional enterprise plan will be published soon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21416/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 31, 44, 56, 61, 65, 69 and 79 together.
Balanced regional development is a Government priority; a central component 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.
As mentioned in response to a parliamentary question during the 20 February 2025 session, with agreement from the Regional Enterprise Plan National Oversight Group at its meeting of 25 April 2024, the current REPs have been extended for one year to end 2025. This extension provides an additional year for continued implementation of the current plans and time to consider the best approach to the development of successor plans throughout 2025.
There is a clear commitment in the new Programme for Government to publish and resource new Regional Enterprise Plans. Before we develop these new plans, I would like to assess our approach to date, set a clear framework for the future and engage all of the relevant stakeholders in each region.
An independent review of the Regional Enterprise Plan initiative is currently underway. The review began in January 2025 and the final report will be delivered in Q2 2025. A steering group has been established to oversee the review.
A Regional Enterprise Policy Statement is to be drafted in parallel and finalised after the review of the REP initiative. This statement intends to more clearly link the REPs with existing policies and initiatives; it will set out the framework and strategic agenda for future regional enterprise development.
Following publication of the policy statement in the second half of this year, attention will then turn to development of the next set of REPs. A defined process, taking account of the REP review results and policy statement, and involving consultation with regional stakeholders, will be conducted in each region. This process should lead to formulation of new Regional Enterprise Plans ready for launch in early 2026.