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

I reassure the Deputy that a wide range of supports is available for indigenous companies. Only yesterday, I announced the regional enterprise development fund. The Deputy stated there was nothing specific in the fund for County Mayo, but there was much in it for the region. I see regions, not county boundaries. A project that was funded in Sligo will have benefits for Mayo and the neighbouring counties. On Monday I was in Navan launching this fund, from which the Boyne Valley Food Innovation District now stands to benefit. Its application was turned down the last time. The representatives of the Boyne Valley Food Innovation District present at the launch said they were very disappointed by this initial decision. They said they applied for funding under the regional enterprise development fund, put in the application and were called to make a bid. They said it felt like they were at a football game and were five-nil down and were hoping the ground would open up and swallow them. They had to go out the door without any money. However, they made a second application. I suggest that the companies that failed to get any funding under the regional enterprise development fund go back to Enterprise Ireland, talk to them and look at how they can improve the application. This is what the Boyne Valley Food Innovation District did. It improved its application and now has funding under this round. This is a rolling fund. I suggest the Deputy gather together the companies that were unsuccessful in their applications to the regional enterprise development fund, which was independently assessed, and tell them to go back to Enterprise Ireland, get feedback and look to see where they can improve on their applications. I want to see every region and county benefitting.

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