Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 October 2025
221. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the EU funding opportunities that will be open for application for schemes under his Department and at agencies under his aegis in the next six months and in the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56448/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department funds and promotes enterprises of all sizes in Ireland through a range of tailored programmes and supports delivered for the most part through Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland.
The European Union allocates funding to a comprehensive array of projects and programmes spanning diverse sectors, including education, scientific research, employment, regional development, environmental sustainability, humanitarian assistance, agriculture, and maritime affairs, among others. Considerable financial support is extended to small and medium-sized enterprises, non-governmental and civil society organisations, youth, researchers, agricultural professionals, and public sector entities, among other eligible beneficiaries.
Enterprise Ireland will offer a range of EU funding opportunities under both the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). Under the ERDF, funding will continue to support regional enterprise development through schemes that enhance innovation, infrastructure, and SME services. These initiatives aim to strengthen regional competitiveness, foster collaboration, and stimulate job creation, with further calls expected during this period.
Through the NRRP, which will be open until June 2026, Enterprise Ireland will maintain supports for the green and digital transition of Irish businesses. Key schemes such as the Green Transition Fund and Digital Transition Fund will remain open for application, offering grants and advisory services to help companies decarbonise operations and adopt digital technologies. These supports are part of Ireland’s implementation of the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility.
The Digital Transition Fund is being made available from funds that have been allocated to my Department through the European Union’s NextGenerationEU funding instrument as part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The Digital Transition Fund aims to drive transformative digitalisation of enterprise in Ireland, particularly amongst SMEs. Currently administered through Enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta, the fund offers a range of grant offers designed to increase the adoption of digital technologies across all stages of a company’s digitalisation journey.
Support ranges from helping companies establish an online presence, to digitising products and business processes, enabling export capabilities, and leveraging digital tools to explore new markets and develop innovative business models.
My Department also expects to launch a Call for Expressions of Interest in November 2025 under the EU Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) mechanism. The Call will target opportunities in the sectors of Advanced Semiconductor Technologies, Artificial Intelligence, and Computing Infrastructure. I will be taking a Memo for Information to Government very shortly on these plans.
Applications will be assessed in line with the EU Commission’s IPCEI Communication and the highest quality projects may be selected for state aid co-funding. The majority of funding will come from the companies/organisations.
My Department will continue to monitor IPCEI developments at the EU level and seek to identify strategic investment opportunities to ensure Ireland is at the forefront of cutting-edge innovation which can enhance our industrial and economic competitiveness and resilience.
