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

On Monday I announced the allocation for the regional enterprise development fund. A number of projects in the mid-west were funded. Some €603,000 has been allocated to BNest Social Initiative DAC, a social enterprise initiative that assists businesses in seeking a social impact to achieve viability and scale in Limerick and the wider region. Some €1.7 million has been allocated to a project in County Clare and the Shannon Estuary providing specialist infrastructure for maritime-related training and field research support. Funding of €2.2 million has been allocated to a digital collaboration centre in Limerick in the mid-west to drive the application of disruptive technologies.

These three projects are in addition to the funding received by the Irish Bioeconomy Foundation and Emerald Aerocluster under call one.

As I stated, the regional action plans for jobs have been very successful. We are asking that they be refreshed and renewed and the implementation committees are coming up with new ideas. The regional enterprise development fund is putting funding behind these ideas and creating jobs. Conscious of the need to ensure we continue to create sustainable jobs, I launched the future jobs plan only two weeks ago.

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