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

While recognising the challenges posed in the necessary transition to a low-carbon economy, I especially regret that individual workers, their families and the community will be negatively impacted by the job losses announced by Bord na Móna.

Since I became Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, I have made job creation and enterprise development in the regions a top priority. I launched the new midlands regional enterprise plan on 6 February last in Mountmellick, County Laois. It has emerged from a bottom-up collaborative process which ensures regional stakeholders remain focused on delivering on the employment targets set to 2020 under the original regional action plan for jobs, as well as ensuring the plans are robust and relevant in the context of today's challenges and opportunities.

The midlands has made excellent progress with employment growth of 18.5%, well above the 2020 target. The midlands plan complements the ongoing work of the enterprise agencies and the local enterprise offices in the region through driving collaborative initiatives with the local authorities, the regional skills forum, tourism bodies, enterprise champions and higher and further education bodies.

The midlands plan sets out seven strategic objectives for enterprise growth which span areas such as addressing the challenges posed by the transition to a low-carbon economy, big data opportunities, advanced manufacturing, place-making and marketing, tourism, food and skills development. The first of these objectives aims to ensure the midlands is well positioned to address the challenges posed by the transition to a low-carbon economy and renewable energy. Actions include development of Portlaoise as a low-carbon town, county climate adaptation strategies, feasibility of developing an energy park, along with progressing aquaculture and herb production opportunities.

In October 2018, Bord na Móna detailed plans to implement strand 1 of its brown-to-green strategy to consolidate and simplify traditional peat harvesting operations. In response to this announcement, a regional transition team, including the local authorities, enterprise agencies and others, was established by Offaly County Council.

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The midlands regional enterprise plan to 2020 is strongly aligned with and supports the work of the regional transition team, in particular, by encouraging collaboration to develop employment opportunities.

Finally, it is important to note that the Government has put several funding streams in place to support regional development including my Department’s regional enterprise development fund, the rural and urban regeneration and development funds under Project Ireland 2040 and the town and village renewal scheme. Under the €60 million competitive regional enterprise development fund, the midlands has secured total funding of over €2.8 million under the two completed calls to date.

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