Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Smith for his question. Enterprise centres provide space and training for entrepreneurs, allowing them to work remotely, access training and network with other business leaders, helping them to scale internationally and attract small-scale foreign direct investment. There is a wide range of funding mechanisms available for these centres.

To date my Department has provided funding of €250 million, administered by Enterprise Ireland, to assist the establishment of some 270 enterprise centres throughout Ireland. In 2022, an additional €5 million will be provided to community enterprise centres through the regional enterprise innovation and scoping scheme. This scheme builds on existing regional initiatives and aims to grant-aid projects to improve the resilience and international competitiveness of enterprise in all regions. Substantial funding will also be made up to 2027 for regional enterprise projects with funding from the European Regional Development Fund and the shared island fund.

Since 2017, Enterprise Ireland has administered departmental funding to 91 projects totalling over €16 million under both the regional enterprise development fund and the community enterprise centre schemes. A further €9 million in grants was administered through Enterprise Ireland for 95 enterprise centres, many of which have been negatively affected by Covid-19, to sustain their businesses, pivot and further develop their services, as well as continuing to assist the development of start-up companies and the provision of remote working spaces. A further €12 million in funding has been sanctioned to assist the completion of projects under the regional enterprise development fund and Border enterprise development fund for schemes that have been delayed or interrupted due to increased construction or construction-related costs. This fund is being administered through Enterprise Ireland.

Nationwide, there is a broad range of other hub-type facilities, both publicly and privately funded, including community enterprise centres, incubators and accelerators. These are included by the national hub network working group in its mapping of a national network of remote working facilities. The Department of Rural and Community Development, which leads this mapping initiative, has also invested significantly in remote working infrastructure through town and village renewal, the rural development fund and the LEADER programme, for example.

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