Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

We also announced a €26 million Bank of Ireland seed and early stage equity fund, supported by Enterprise Ireland and the University of Limerick Foundation, which will invest in start-up and early stage companies. Its focus will be on high potential university spin-offs and export-orientated start-up companies that operate in the technology, including green technology, food and financial services sectors.

Although 2009 was a difficult year for established companies, Enterprise lreland expects the ongoing focus for established industry in the mid west to be on consolidation, growing gross value added. In Shannon Development's free zone 7,100 people are employed in about 100 companies.

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