Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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298. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the targeted strategies the IDA and Enterprise Ireland are developing and implementing in counties Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal and Cavan to entice clients and investment in view of Brexit negotiations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14438/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I am very much aware of the potential impact of Brexit on border areas and I am committed to doing all I can to assist enterprise in the region.  I regularly engage with stakeholders from the area and, on 19 January, I hosted a large delegation of elected representatives from Cavan and Monaghan to discuss issues including Brexit.

IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices are also working on an ongoing basis with client companies to both mitigate the challenges and maximise the opportunities arising from the UK’s decision to leave the EU. InterTrade Ireland is also working with companies engaged in North-South trade to ensure they are best prepared as possible to address the challenges Brexit may pose for cross-border commerce.

The wider strategy for increasing employment in the region is the Regional Action Plan for the North East/North West, which has a strong Brexit focus.  This plan aims to support the creation of 28,000 new jobs across Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth by 2020. I am pleased that there has been strong progress made to date towards that objective, with 5,600 more people in employment across the region since the start of 2015.