Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I very much welcome the major funding from the Government for the shared island initiative. This is funding projects in my constituency, including the restoration of the Ulster Canal, which will be very beneficial for a number of counties throughout Ulster. The Taoiseach may recall that I raised with him when he held the enterprise portfolio the importance of developing enterprise centres and work space. Enterprise Ireland provides some support towards the building of such units but local authorities generally are the drivers of such projects. Substantial costs are involved in a local authority purchasing appropriate land and servicing those sites before construction even begins. Some work is ongoing in the shared island unit on enterprise on a cross-Border basis. Cavan and Monaghan county councils are working with neighbouring local authorities north of the Border. I am particularly interested in the Taoiseach ensuring that the shared island unit lays a particular emphasis on developing enterprise in the central Border region because it is particularly important. The same economic problems exist north and south of the Border. Thankfully, with the all-Ireland economy, there is significant interaction in business and commerce on a cross-Border basis. We should drive forward the development of enterprise centres on both sides of the Border. This additional assistance is needed for local authorities with a poor funding base, such as Cavan and Monaghan county councils given their poor rates base. Assistance in that respect would pay large dividends for the local and national economy.

See this speech in context