Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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47. To ask the Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment the plans he has to fulfil the commitment in the programme for Government of building County Cork as a viable alternative to Dublin and bringing more employment to the city. [35077/20]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Delivering balanced regional growth through a coherent policy approach to the enterprise needs of every part of Ireland is a stated objective within the Programme for Government.

My Department’s Regional Enterprise Plans are focused on region-specific enterprise development challenges and opportunities and provide a mechanism for joined up responses at the regional level, involving the enterprise agencies, LEOs, local authorities, higher and further education bodies, private sector, and others.

The Regional Enterprise Plan for the South West which includes Co. Cork concludes its 2 year programme at the end of 2020. My intention is to refresh the strategic agenda in the South West and in the other regions over coming months, in consultation with regional stakeholders, including in County Cork.

My Department’s Regional Enterprise Development Fund administered by Enterprise Ireland, is aimed at enhancing the conditions for regional business growth. To date Cork and Kerry have secured over €18.2 million across fifteen projects. An additional €30m in regional funding is contained in Budget 2021.

Enterprise Ireland’s Strategy ‘Powering the Regions’ includes a focus on the South West. In 2019/20 EI companies such as EDPAC International, Poppulo, Cosmetic Creation, Global Shares and Workvivo announced the creation 485 new jobs in Cork.

The three Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) in Co. Cork supported an additional 342 net new jobs in start-ups and micro companies in 2019.

The IDA is doing everything it can to encourage investors to locate in regional areas including the Cork region. Cork has been a strong performer in terms of FDI, with 184 IDA client companies, employing c. 40,671 people. Cork has seen an increase of almost 4% or 1,434 new jobs (net) in IDA client companies last year.

Working with colleagues across Government to deliver the National Planning Framework, my Department is committed to delivering balanced regional growth and to ensuring that Cork continues to enjoy a steady increase in employment. Balanced regional growth will also feature as part of the forthcoming National Economic Plan.