Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Final decisions have not yet been made on the specific functions of the Department that may transfer. It is important to have close co-operation with the Department of Social Protection because we want people to move seamlessly into employment when opportunities arise. We do not want there to be barriers preventing people from taking up jobs that become available.

The Deputy asked about the forthcoming budget. My Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on budget 2018. It is too early in the process, however, to be definitive about the Department's capital and current ceilings for 2018, which will not be finalised until later in the year.

As part of 2017 budget negotiations, the overall gross allocation to my Department was substantially increased to €858 million, which included the highest ever capital allocation of €555 million provided to my Department. This increase was targeted at ensuring my Department's enterprise agencies were in a position to respond proactively to the evolving Brexit situation.

I have already held discussions in the Department and with others on a number of discrete and significant priorities for the coming year. These include the need to continue progress on delivering on the Government's regionalisation agenda, which I have discussed with Deputies, and its commitment to create 200,000 extra jobs by 2020, including 135,000 jobs outside Dublin. A second priority is to ensure the Department's enterprise agencies are in a position to provide transformational supports for indigenous enterprise. I discussed this important point with Deputy Brendan Smith. We must also continue the roll-out of research and development investment in support of the Government's science strategy, Innovation 2020, and provide, if required, contingency funding and access to finance packages over two years to support firms most at risk from the threat of Brexit. As the Deputy is aware, some firms will be more at risk from Brexit than others. I intend to ensure that these priorities are at the forefront of discussions on budget 2018.

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