Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Regional enterprise development is a key policy priority for me and the Government and is a core element of the national development plan. The enterprise agencies of my Department directly and indirectly support approximately 635,000 jobs in the regions outside Dublin.

In preparing for Brexit, the Government introduced a range of measures to assist businesses and SMEs. The 2022 budget allocation provided to Enterprise Ireland and the local enterprise offices will be used to service existing programmes as well as to provide the scope to explore the potential for new schemes to address the ongoing impact of Covid-19 and Brexit. The customs insights course from Enterprise Ireland helps businesses understand the key customs concepts, documentation and processes required to move goods from, to and through the UK.

To date, my Department has made available over €126 million in regional enterprise funding through the regional enterprise development fund, the Border enterprise development fund, BEDF, and the regional enterprise transition scheme to assist locally-led regional enterprise and development projects. The BEDF was launched in 2020 with the aim of improving the international competitiveness of enterprises in the Border region in the context of Brexit and other market challenges. To date, 11 projects have secured funding of €17.4 million under this fund. The BEDF is part of a €28 million economic stimulus package for Border counties and further enhances Brexit supports for smaller businesses supported by the LEOs and drives SME business transformation for businesses in the Border region who are challenged by Brexit and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

My Department’s regional enterprise transition scheme was recently introduced as part of the Government’s programme of assistance for regional enterprise development and assistance to regions facing difficulties as a consequence of Brexit and Covid-19. Last October, 24 projects secured funding of €9.3 million, with funding approved in each region. I assure the Deputy that I will continue to work with my colleagues across the Government and with stakeholders to examine all appropriate business supports to assist businesses impacted by Brexit.

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