Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2026
204. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the plans in place to support development along the M1 corridor and attract high-value jobs to mid-Louth and north Drogheda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45618/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraBalanced regional development is a key focus of the work of my Department and our Enterprise Development agencies. We are focused on ensuring that every region in Ireland grows optimally, based on its unique strengths, contributing to national prosperity through job creation, innovation, and enterprise development.
Enterprise Ireland’s Strategy 2025–2029, titled "Delivering for Ireland, Leading Globally", is a comprehensive roadmap aimed at transforming Ireland’s indigenous enterprise base into a global economic force. Enterprise Ireland supported companies are delivering direct and indirect job creation, developing innovative solutions for global challenges, strengthening communities and regions, and improving quality of life nationwide.
In 2025, EI supported 117 companies in County Louth, with total employment of 6,207. The New Frontiers programme for the North East Region is funded by Enterprise Ireland to support local start-ups and is managed by Dundalk IT in partnership with DCU Invent. In 2025, the programme attracted 52 participants, supporting high potential start-ups with mentoring, hot-desk space and stipends to allow exploration of their new business idea.
Enterprise Ireland has funded 6 projects, with a total value of €10.2m, in Louth under the Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) and the Border Enterprise Development Fund (BEDF). The REDF and BEDF funds provide support for collaborative, enterprise capability building projects, to advance entrepreneurship, productivity and innovation in SMEs across the North East Region. Approved projects include the Drogheda Digital Hub, and the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Centre of Excellence at Dundalk IT. EI also approved two projects in Louth in 2025 under the Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme.
EI funded seven start-ups in the North-East in 2025 (5 from Louth) by through High Potential Startup or Pre-Seed Funding. Enterprise Ireland also works closely with the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) in Louth. LEO Louth’s suite of business supports is available to all businesses and entrepreneurs in the county.
IDA Ireland is continuing its strong commitment to promoting FDI in regional locations as part of its 2025-29 strategy, Adapt Intelligently, and is targeting 550, or 55% of FDI projects outside Dublin over the strategy's lifetime. Furthermore, the IDA is positioning the Mid-East Region - including Louth - as a competitive destination for global investment and IDA is targeting 55 of these 550 investments to the Mid-East.
County Louth plays a significant role in IDA Ireland’s regional investment strategy. The county has seen, in aggregate, good FDI performance over recent years, supported by strong regional collaboration, strategic location, and targeted investment. There are currently 37 IDA-supported companies in County Louth employing 4,048 people.
IDA Ireland is committed to retaining and strengthening client operations in every region. The agency assists client companies in preserving employment, encouraging reinvestment, and mitigating job losses. Through close collaboration with businesses, IDA offers a wide array of supports, including RD&I grants, capital funding for energy efficiency improvements, and digitalisation initiatives designed to enhance competitiveness.
The availability of suitable property and strategic sites is a critical component of the regional value proposition and to the winning of investments into the regions from both new-name clients and from the existing client base. IDA Ireland continues to deliver advance property solutions and infrastructure improvements to support multinational investment and regional economic growth, in line with the objectives of the IDA Regional Property Programme. This includes the delivery of 2 Advance Building Solutions (ABS), under its current strategy which extends to 2029, one in Drogheda for which planning has been granted and commencement of a further ABS in Dundalk subject to availability of current ABS’s.
IDA Ireland’s approach to further increasing investment and employment in County Louth is multi-faceted and includes partnering with clients to enhance competitiveness and productivity in their Irish operations, attracting new investment and delivering strategic infrastructure that underpins long-term regional growth. I am confident that County Louth remains well positioned for future investment.
