Written Answers Nos. 1-20
14. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the efforts he is making to increase employment opportunities in County Meath, given the very significant number of workers who are forced to leave the county every day for work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32741/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is committed to supporting businesses to start-up, grow and create sustainable employment in towns and villages across the country.
The Local Enterprise Office (LEO) in County Meath provides enterprise and entrepreneurship support services, business information and advisory services, and contributes to the Local Enterprise Development Services in County Meath.
In 2024, LEO Meath has assisted 259 Meath based small businesses, supporting 1,455 jobs and creating 74 new jobs through the provision of €406,619 in direct grant assistance. Many more jobs are supported through other LEO supports including mentoring, targeted training, exporting, decarbonisation and digital transformation.
Balanced regional development is a Government priority and Meath, along with the counties of Kildare and Wicklow comprise the Mid East Regional Enterprise Plan. This Plan was developed and led by regional stakeholders, focuses on collaborative initiatives to strengthen the enterprise ecosystem in the region.
Enterprise Ireland remains firmly committed to driving balanced regional development as a cornerstone of its strategy. Under their new strategy, 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
The total number of people employed in Enterprise Ireland client companies in Meath totalled 9,034 in 2024 – a net increase of 672 people, which is 8% growth.
There has been a 54% increase in employment in FDI clients in County Meath over the period of IDA’s last strategy, resulting from a strong investment performance including expansions and in Research Development & Innovation investments.
IDA has Business and Technology Parks with available lands in Navan (65 acres) and Drogheda (8 acres) and the strong FDI performance in the county will be leveraged as IDA continues to market Meath as a location for further FDI investment utilising its global network of overseas offices.
15. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will provide an update on the new national clustering policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33182/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government 2025 “Securing Ireland’s Future” includes a commitment to establish five new national cluster organisations. Importantly, the Programme for Government is underpinned by an emphasis on a Shared island approach. This commitment echoes the commitment in respect of clustering in the White Paper on Enterprise, which recognised clustering as an enterprise policy tool to improve national competitiveness by building clusters of national scale with international visibility.
In the Revised Estimates 2025 a dedicated funding stream of €384, 000 was secured for the National Clustering Programme. The focus now is on funding a number of organisations with a triple helix model - representing collaboration between Industry, Academia and Government - that have a track record of delivering international impacts and thus proof of concept to support submissions to secure further funding for future years. It is proposed to pilot up to three mature clusters in the Irish clustering ecosystem, all of which support national strategic national priorities. The selection of existing, high performing, organisations will assist in the development of a robust evidence base for further National Clustering Programme funding in the Estimates 2026 process. This approach is in line with the findings of the The Competitiveness Institute (TCI) international experts who my Department engaged to undertake a draft review of the proposed National Clustering Programme.
As regards next steps, my officials will publish, in the coming weeks, the TCI Peer Review Report, the criteria for selection of national clustering organisations and the Key Performance Indicators which must be delivered at the end of year 3 before the full 6 year funding for clusters of national scale can be released by the programme. The 6 year period for funding of national level clusters is in line with international best practice.
17. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he is aware that according to the UN trade database Comtrade, Ireland imported €2.89 billion worth of goods from Israel in 2024, making us their largest trading partner in Europe (details supplied); and what measures he will undertake to reduce this level of trade with Israel. [32228/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Central Statistics Office is responsible for supplying Ireland official trade statistics.
Ireland’s goods trade with Israel in 2024 shows goods imports from Israel to the value of €3.8 billion in 2024, most of which is accounted for by imports in the Electrical Machinery, Apparatus & Appliances category. The next largest imports are in the Professional, scientific & controlling apparatus category, followed by small volumes of organic and inorganic chemicals.
The CSO will publish data for April 2025 shortly and will be updating data for 2024 as part of this process.
Trade activity between Irish businesses and overseas businesses has, in general, expanded over recent years with all countries, except of course for countries that are subject to EU or other international trade sanctions. This general trade growth reflects Ireland's status as a major hub of enterprise and multinational corporate activity.
Trade Policy is an exclusive competence of the European Union as part of the Union’s Common Commercial Policy. Ireland does not have discretion to act unilaterally to restrict trade or offer preferential trade terms to third countries, and we are bound to act in accordance with trade terms that are set at EU level.
As regards trade with Israel, the Government’s priority is to ensure that trade relations are compliant with international law. Highly relevant in this regard is the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which entered into force in June 2000 and which provides the overarching legal and institutional framework for political dialogue and economic cooperation between the EU and Israel and excludes any preferential treatment of goods produced in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and other territories occupied since 1967. As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland has been to the forefront in calling for a review of the terms of that Agreement, to ascertain whether the conditions in regard to respect for human rights are being adhered to. T his is now the subject of intensive follow-up at EU level and at national level by my colleague the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.
18. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of jobs in Kerry currently supported by Enterprise Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32983/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government commits that developing Ireland's enterprise base will remain a key focus for Government over the next five years – from backing small businesses and start-ups, to scaling up indigenous firms and enhancing our attractiveness as a location for foreign direct investment. The Irish labour market remains exceptionally resilient and the performance of indigenous firms in particular is notable, with 2024 showing a new record for the highest number of people employed in EI client companies.
In 2024 alone there were 293 jobs created by Enterprise Ireland supported companies in Kerry, leading to employment growth of 3% last year, a rate of growth that is in line with the national average rate in Enterprise Ireland supported companies.
More broadly in 2024, Enterprise Ireland clients achieved very good employment growth, with total employment reaching a record 234,454 people. This represents a 3% increase from the previous year, with 15,741 new jobs created. Notably, 64% of these new jobs were based outside the Dublin region, highlighting the Government's commitment to fostering regional development. The west of Ireland emerged as the strongest growing region, with employment rising by 6%, double the national average.
To support job creation, my Department also funded a number of projects in Kerry under the Regional Enterprise Development Fund, including the Agritech Centre Tralee, Dingle Innovation Hub and the RDI Hub Killorglin.
In addition, the LEO office in Kerry assisted 238 Kerry based small businesses, supporting 1104 jobs and creating 156 new jobs through direct grant assistance.
The regional impact of Enterprise Ireland’s efforts is evident in the distribution of job growth across all nine regions, each recording positive employment figures. This focus on regional development not only boosts local economies but also ensures a more balanced economic growth across the country. Enterprise Ireland’s strategy of supporting ambitious, globally focused Irish companies continues to drive job creation and economic resilience, particularly in areas outside the capital.
19. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment in view of the importance of enterprise centres in assisting the creation and retention of employment, particularly in rural areas, if additional supports will be provided to local authorities to develop such workspaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33167/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra24. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment when additional supports will be provided to assist in the development of enterprise centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33166/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 24 together.
Balanced regional enterprise development is a key focus for my Department and for the Government. I appreciate the important role of enterprise centres and remote working hubs throughout the country. They enable people to live and work in their local communities and provide a range of services to support companies and entrepreneurs to establish and grow their businesses. The Government has invested significantly in the development of these facilities, and we remain committed to further support for the sector.
Through programmes such as Connected Hubs and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, and working in partnership with local authorities and communities, substantial funding has been provided through the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to support remote working hubs. A significant number of the funded projects are making use of buildings that had previously been vacant or derelict.
Our Rural Future committed to the establishment of a network of 400 remote working hubs across the country over the lifetime of the policy. Connectedhubs.ie, the online booking and payments platform for remote working spaces, was launched in mid-2021, and there are now 383 hubs live on the network.
In close cooperation with my Department, the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht is leading on development of the first Strategy for the National Hub Network. The Strategy, to be published this year, will present a coherent and whole-of-government approach to the future development of remote working and enterprise hubs through the National Hub Network.
As the Deputy will be aware, my Department has focused on supporting enterprise hubs and centres, which provide enterprise development activities rather than a remote working focus. Since 2017, my Department has allocated more than €150 million to support regional enterprise development initiatives, including many enterprise centres and hubs, across the country through Enterprise Ireland schemes, such as the Regional and the Border Enterprise Development Funds.
The Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme, co-funded under the European Regional Development Fund and administered by Enterprise Ireland, is open for applications. The scheme supports local enterprise infrastructure projects, innovative clusters, programmatic supports to business and feasibility and priming funding for early-stage project development. The overall aim of the scheme is to drive job creation and enterprise development across the regions.
While they are independent, the Government will continue to work with the local authorities to deliver projects that support regional development. The local authorities have supported many of the enterprise hubs delivered to date, as project partners or through direct funding contributions.
My Department does not have plans to introduce another regional enterprise development scheme at this time. However, funding of enterprise hubs will be kept under review as we consider future approaches to regional enterprise development. An independent review of the Regional Enterprise Plan initiative is under way and I know the local authorities have provided feedback on key issues as part of this process, including the availability of funding. The report on the findings of this independent review is due at the end of this quarter.
20. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the financial supports he will put in place to assist SMEs reduce their greenhouse emissions in line with Government targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32784/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThank you Deputy for asking this important question.
Our targets in these areas are to reduce industrial emissions by 35% by 2030, and in commercial buildings by 45% by 2030.
Since becoming Minister of this Department I have been focused on supporting small businesses, as they are the backbone of our economy and provide much valued employment. In assisting SMEs to become more sustainable, we are also helping them to lower their energy costs and become more competitive. The Government has a range of financial and advisory supports available to businesses to assist them to decarbonise.
As a first step businesses can get help to identify where can they make energy savings. Through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s (SEAI) Support Scheme for Energy Audits, SMEs can access a €2,000 voucher to cover the cost of a professional energy audit, to identify where energy is being used inefficiently and highlight opportunities to cut costs and reduce emissions. Most audits are fully funded and carried out by SEAI-registered experts. Similarly, Enterprise Ireland’s Climate Action Voucher offers up to €1,800 to fund two days of independent consultancy to help companies to identify and act on energy-saving opportunities.
The Climate Action Programme from Fáilte Ireland meanwhile is fully subsidised and gives SMEs in the Tourism Sector access to a dedicated expert advisor who will work with them on a one-to-one basis to assess their current operations and create a tailored, practical action plan. This will enable the SME to get clear, unbiased guidance on how to reduce emissions, improve energy use, and explore available funding opportunities — all designed around the specific needs of their business.
Once businesses know what areas they want to invest in, there are further supports available to fund energy efficient equipment and building retrofits. The Local Enterprise Offices offer the Energy Efficiency Grant which can be used to invest in items such as new energy efficient equipment, smart controls or heat recovery systems. Recognising the importance of this support, I announced a series of revisions to its terms last year, including raising the grant rate to 75% and the maximum investment ceiling to €10,000. This led to a marked increase in its uptake, and by the end of 2024, 289 small businesses had availed of grants with a total value of €2.28 million. That strong demand has continued into 2025. So far this year alone 296 small businesses have availed of grants worth €2.45 million in total.
The SEAI’s Business Energy Upgrades Scheme which opened for applications late last year, assists the business, agricultural, public body, or non-profit sectors to introduce energy efficient and renewable measures into their buildings. There has been a strong uptake of this Scheme so far with 102 applications approved totalling €2.39m in grant funding.
Finally, there are also loans available to SMEs to fund sustainability measures. The €500 million Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme (GSLS) delivered by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland has unlocked significant funding to enable SMEs, including farmers, fishers and mid-caps to avail of long-term finance at a lower cost to expand, diversify, improve productivity and invest in energy efficiency and sustainability. As of 31 December 2024, 1,427 loans were approved totalling €313 million.
Lastly Deputy you may wish to know that we are aware from recent market research undertaken on behalf of my Department, that sustainability is an important day-to-day issue for businesses, and that many have already taken steps to become so.
I am keen to support businesses to be sustainable and am confident that this package of supports in place is effective and will assist SMEs to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
