Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy McConalogue for raising this issue. He is right, in that I am conscious of the challenges that Brexit will present in the Border region. I appreciate the importance of ensuring that Irish businesses, including those located in Donegal, are best able to withstand the pressures that Brexit may exert. That is why additional financial resources have been secured to support the strategic response to Brexit by our enterprise agencies, including IDA Ireland.

Brexit, or more particularly the response to the challenges that it presents, is a key factor in shaping IDA Ireland's strategy and operations. This includes the agency's approach to regional development, finance, planning, marketing and promotional activities. The IDA has established a specific Brexit committee to oversee its response to the opportunities and challenges arising from the UK's exit from the EU. The agency also has a clear Brexit plan, including one-to-one investor engagements and public relations and media campaigns.

I am conscious of the particular trade implications that Brexit may have for Border counties such as Donegal, where 12 IDA client companies employing 3,389 people are based. I am pleased that the level of employment by multinationals in the county has increased by 52% since 2012. Enterprise Ireland has also grown its jobs numbers in the county, with 3,552 people now employed in client companies of Enterprise Ireland in Donegal, up from 3,420 last year. Enterprise Ireland and the IDA maintain constant engagement with their clients in Donegal to encourage them to grow jobs and investments there even further. The local enterprise offices and InterTradeIreland are also working hard to mitigate against the impacts of Brexit.

More broadly, the north east-north west Action Plan for Jobs is the key policy response for supporting employment growth in the Border region, including Donegal.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

I am pleased that good progress is being made under the plan, with 12,000 more people in work in the region since its launch in early 2015.

Key to supporting the regional action plans is Enterprise Ireland's €60 million regional enterprise development fund, which provides financial support for regional projects. Last December, I announced the results of the first call under this fund, with 21 projects across all regions receiving a total of €30.5 million. The second call will be announced in March. Three projects in the Border region secured funding under the first call, including a digital innovation hub in Donegal.

The implications of the Brexit vote and the challenges and opportunities that the decision poses for all Irish regions, including the Border, continue to be considered by all regional Action Plan for Jobs implementation committees and are a focus of all the enterprise agencies under my Department's remit.

See this speech in context