Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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80. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the manner in which her Department has collaborated with the IFA and Enterprise Ireland to promote economic growth in south Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36474/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Kildare is part of the Mid-East region along with Meath and Wicklow, and has the lowest unemployment rate in the State of 5.3%.  I understand that there are 23 IDA supported client companies employing 10,139 people in County Kildare. Building on this strong base, the Agency is targeting a 30% to 40% increase in investment in the region by 2019.  A dedicated Regional Business Development Manager has been appointed to assist the Agency in achieving this ambitious target.  IDA Ireland is actively seeking overseas investment for Kildare and continues to draw the attention of potential investors to the particular strengths of the County.

In 2016, Enterprise Ireland supported companies in County Kildare employed 8,632 people, a net gain of 229 on the previous year. Enterprise Ireland’s Strategy for the period 2017 to 2020 is focused on addressing the need for greater scale across Irish enterprise, in every county throughout the country, including the Agency’s 180 clients in Kildare.

In the period 2014 to 2016, Enterprise Ireland paid approximately €11 million to client companies located in Kildare. Enterprise Ireland funding has supported the establishment of two Community Enterprise Centres in Kildare situated in Clane and Athy. These provide space in a supportive environment for budding entrepreneurs and serve to help the development of entrepreneurship locally.

In June 2017, Enterprise Ireland launched the competitive Regional Enterprise Development Fund. The Fund will support significant collaborative regional initiatives to build on specific industry sectoral strengths and improve enterprise capability, thereby driving job creation. This competitive fund is open to projects from Kildare that meet the fund’s eligibility criteria. An information event on this initiative was held in Maynooth at the end of June. Enterprise Ireland will continue to work with other enterprise development actors to support the implementation of the Regional Action Plan for Jobs and Rural Action Plan in Kildare and surrounding area.