Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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70. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs supported by Enterprise Ireland in County Westmeath; the steps being taken to build on this figure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5769/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Enterprise Ireland’s results for 2017 reported the highest employment in the history of the agency, the highest net job creation in the history of the agency and the lowest number of job losses since 1998. There were 10,309 net new jobs created in Enterprise Ireland supported companies during 2017, bringing the total number to 209,338.

In Westmeath, Enterprise Ireland (EI) supported companies employed 3,741 people during 2017, which represents a 7% increase on the 2016 figure.

In the period 2014 – 2017, EI paid €8 million to client companies in Westmeath to support them to innovate, improve competitiveness and diversify their global footprint. 

Activities currently being undertaken by EI to sustain and create new jobs in Westmeath include:

- Working with established client companies in Westmeath through their teams of sectoral focused development advisors. Using a company led diagnostic approach, the agency can tailor support packages based on ambition, capability and need.

- EI, in partnership with the Institutes of Technology, has established a nationwide network of 15 Technology Gateways which deliver technology solutions for Irish industry close to their market needs and are open to all sizes of companies. Westmeath is home to 2 Technology Gateways; Applied Polymer Technologies and Connected Media. Since 2013, 552 industry research projects have been carried out at these Gateways.

- EI has approved €5.5 million in funding to the Midlands Innovation and Research Centre, which is part of Athlone Institute of Technology.

- EI’sNew Frontiers Development Programme, the national entrepreneur development programme for early-stage startups, is run in the Athlone Institute of Technology in partnership with Maynooth University, and it supported 13 entrepreneurs in 2017.

- In EI supported the ‘Opportunity in a Million Limited to establish a HQ’ 100Mb Super-speed Enterprise Hub – a smart technology incubator in Monksland, on the Roscommon side of Athlone Town, with ‘hands-on’ support aimed at fostering enterprise and jobs in new/growth sectors in collaboration with local partners.

- In late 2017, twenty-one successful applicants representing all regions of the country have secured up to €30.5m for their projects under EI’s Regional Enterprise Development Fund. Over €11m was approved for projects in the Eastern and Midlands region including funding to the Irish Manufacturing Research CLG in Westmeath.

I am committed to work closely with EI to drive its strategy, to ensure that it continues to support companies in rural and urban areas to start, innovate, increase our exports and provide sustainable quality jobs.