Written answers

Tuesday, 3 December 2019

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Departmental Funding

Photo of Peter BurkePeter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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305. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the amount allocated to businesses and organisations in a town (details supplied) in each of the years 2011 to 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50241/19]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Since becoming Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, I have made jobs and enterprise in the regions one of my top priorities. My Department and enterprise agencies are playing a key role in supporting the creation of sustainable, quality jobs in the regions, including in Co. Westmeath.

The Local Enterprise Office (LEO) in Westmeath is the ‘first-stop-shop’ for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and ‘soft’ supports in the form of training and mentoring to anyone wishing to start or grow a business in the area. I announced an extra €5 million in Budget 2019 to enable the LEOs, including LEO Westmeath, to support a broad range of indigenous micro-enterprises.

Along with local enterprise development groups, Enterprise Ireland (EI) has co-funded 164 Community Enterprise Centres (CECs) across the country with payments totalling €44 million. There is now a Community Enterprise Centre located in every county, including Co. Westmeath.

In 2018, 3,564 people were employed in EI supported companies in Co. Westmeath. Between 2016 and 2018, EI paid approximately €4 million to client companies based in Co. Westmeath.

In May 2017, I launched the Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF), rolled out by EI, with funding of up to €60m, designed to support the ambition, goals, and implementation of the Regional Action Plans for Jobs/Regional Enterprise Plans.

Under Call 1 of the fund, a project in Co. Westmeath, Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) was approved funding. The project will develop in the region a significant and important research and development capability in the areas of Collaborative Robotics and Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality.

In addition, there are 21 IDA client companies in County Westmeath employing 3,466 people and since 2012 has witnessed a 44% increase in employment in overseas companies. The County has maintained a strong reputation as a successful home to firms from the Technology and Medical Devices sectors.

A table detailing the funding given by my Department’s Agencies to businesses and organisations in Co. Westmeath is included below.

Agency payments to client companies in Westmeath 2011 to 2018*

Agency 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
LEOs** - - - €634,289 €613,474 €745,218 €702,511 €1,022,122
EI €1,353,503 €1,155,899 €1,483,606 €1,172,469 €1,454,031 €1,598,448 €1,187,314 €1,240,402
IDA €1,443,232 €1,552,832 €272,624 €1,948,923 €2,513,508 €1,768,687 €2,078,588 €3,146,661

* Information on grant amounts for 2019 will not be available until they have been audited by Comptroller and Auditor General in the second quarter of 2020.

** LEOs launched in 2014, figures not available for the years prior to this.

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