Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Enterprise Ireland, EI, the local enterprise offices, LEOs, and IDA Ireland are engaging on a one-to-one basis with all client companies regarding the impacts being felt as a result of Brexit. All agencies have clear plans in place. In budget 2017, I secured additional moneys, both current and capital, to support the enterprise agencies' strategic response to Brexit.

More than €1 billion of Enterprise Ireland client companies' exports go to Northern Ireland and I am very conscious of the challenges that may be faced by companies operating in close proximately to the Border. My Department is funding a research project to inform future responses on a sectoral basis. That research is being conducted by InterTradeIreland. The LEOs are working in partnership with EI to roll outtargeted initiatives to drive innovation, market diversification, cost competitiveness and business management. IDA Ireland has a clear Brexit plan which is being executed and includes one-to-one investor engagements, public relations and media campaigns and an international marketing campaign. InterTradeIreland also has a programme of initiatives to deal with the practical consequences of Brexit for cross-Border trade.

The regional action plan for the north-east-north-west region aims to support the creation of 28,000 jobs across counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth by 2020. There has been strong progress to date, with 5,600 more people in employment across the region since the start of 2015.

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