Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question.

Regional development is a key element of the Government's enterprise policy and is a key focus of the work of my Department and our enterprise development agencies. On job creation, the agencies of my Department are deeply committed to fostering investment in jobs across the manufacturing and services sectors throughout the country. This commitment is driven by the necessity to ensure balanced growth in the jobs sector across the entire country. Enterprise Ireland’s 2022-24 strategy, Leading in a Changing World, aims to create 45,000 new jobs over the next three years and increase exports by client companies to €30 billion. This strategy underscores Enterprise Ireland’s commitment to balanced economic growth and job creation across all regions, supporting more than 4,000 Irish companies, which collectively employed 225,495 people in 2023. Notably, 68% of those jobs were created outside Dublin, demonstrating Enterprise Ireland’s focus on regional development.

Enterprise Ireland clients' exports reached a record €34.5 billion in 2023. Technology and services exports were €8.49 billion; industrial and life sciences exports accounted for €10.384 billion, while food and sustainability exports accounted for €15.691 billion. Enterprise Ireland offers a wide range of supports that are designed to enhance competitiveness, innovation and sustainability, thereby driving job creation in the manufacturing and services sectors. Specific supports are available for sectors such as manufacturing and internationally traded services. This includes funding for research and innovation, digital transformation and sustainability initiatives, all of which contribute to job creation and regional economic development.

Regional development is also a priority for IDA Ireland, which is targeting at least half of all investments - that is, 400 of 800 - from 2021 to 2024 at regional locations. IDA Ireland has more than 1,800 client companies within its portfolio, employing 300,583 people as at the end of 2023. Some 163,471 or 54%, of client employment is outside Dublin. The first six months of this year saw IDA Ireland support 131 investments, 74 of which are planned for regional locations. The results of the LEOs survey 2023 were extremely positive, with LEO client companies creating 6,640 new jobs, which represents a tenth consecutive year of jobs growth since the LEOs were established in 2014 and indicates a net job increase in each of the 31 local authority areas.

See this speech in context