Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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187. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the degree to which she continues to encourage start-up enterprises in all regions throughout the country; the issues identified to date as being likely to impede progress; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43041/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am committed to the development of a business environment that is encouraging of entrepreneurs in every region of the country. My Department launched the National Policy Statement on Entrepreneurship (NPSE) in 2014. It set out the Government’s strategic objectives as a facilitator within the Irish entrepreneurship ecosystem. Its ambition is to double the jobs impact of start-ups on the Irish economy over the 5 years by:

- Increasing the number of start-ups by 25% (3,000 more start-ups per annum)

- Increasing the survival rate in the first five years by 25% (1,800 more survivors per annum), and

- Improving the capacity of start-ups to grow to scale by 25%.

The NPSE is a means for facilitating the entrepreneurs of Ireland in creating, surviving and growing their businesses after a period of huge upheaval in terms of the economy and in new technologies and disruptive business models. Irish entrepreneurs, as ever, have shown resilience, innovation and the willingness to take risks which has seen the rapid increase in the number of business births but also a reduction in the rates of business deaths. For example the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office Business Demography report 2016 indicates there were 19,249 new enterprise births in 2016, up from 16,256 in 2015.

Marking the half way point of the Statement, 2017 saw the development and organisation of the Mid-term Review. My Department held a number of stakeholder meetings grouped by those involved in education; state bodies and entrepreneurs themselves. Areas identified for improvement included access to finance, availability of skilled workers and the need to increase the number of female business owners.

In response to the findings of the Mid-term Review and ongoing policy development within my Department, I decided to develop an SME and entrepreneurship strategy for Ireland. It was decided that a review of SME and Entrepreneurship Issues and Policies in Ireland would be undertaken in conjunction with the OECD to support the development of a strategy for SMEs. We have ensured that the review will have a strong regional focus. The review commenced in 2018 and the process will take 18 months to complete.

The key review objectives are to provide an assessment of current SME and entrepreneurship policies and programmes, strengthen policy design and implementation through recommendations and dialogue stimulation, including through a policy roadmap, and provide international comparison of successful SME and entrepreneurship policies. With this roadmap, I will develop an SME and entrepreneurship strategy to ensure Ireland remains a good place to start a business and strengthens the business environment to ensure more indigenous business throughout the regions can start, grow and internationalise.

Notwithstanding these policy initiatives, there are currently many supports available to encourage startups throughout every region in the country. The 31 Local Enterprises Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports for anyone intending to start or grow their own business.

Elsewhere, last year I announced an allocation of €30.5 million in funding to support enterprise capability in the regions, with 21 projects from all over the country receiving funding. This Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) totaling €60 million is being rolled out by Enterprise Ireland over the next 4 years to support the development and implementation of collaborative and innovative projects that can sustain and add to employment at a national, regional and county level. The Fund supports the ambition, goals and implementation of the Regional Action Plans for Jobs (RAPJ). I have asked the RAPJ Implementation Committees in each region to lead a process to Refresh and Refocus their Plans to 2020. They will define between five and ten clearly defined regional enterprise development objectives with job creation potential, together with measurable time-bound actions to deliver over the next two years.

In summary, I and my Department continue to develop and deliver supports which encourage startups in every region and county of Ireland. We are in frequent consultation with entrepreneurs and are listening to their concerns and making every effort to address these concerns. Ireland is a good country in which to start a business. I have every intention of making it even better.