Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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32. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on progress following the launch of the West Regional Enterprise Plan to 2024 with specific reference to County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25291/22]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Regional enterprise development and sustainable local job creation continues to be a key policy priority of mine and this Government. Throughout 2021, my Department oversaw the development of nine new Regional Enterprise Plans to 2024, including for the West, which covers Counties Roscommon, Galway – and Mayo.

A key feature and strength of the Regional Enterprise Plans is that they are developed using a ‘bottom-up’ approach, developed by regional stakeholders who are keenly aware of the growth opportunities and vulnerabilities in their region, and of the benefits of working collaboratively.

Along with the Tánaiste, I was pleased to launch the West Plan in Castlebar on the 4^thof March. The new Plan contains seven strategic objectives and related actions to be delivered by end 2024, which include:

- Advance the development of the regional entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem;

- Strengthen and harness the Cultural and Creative Sector;

- Realise the Atlantic West region’s potential for enterprise and job creation in the Renewable Energy sector;

- Drive the Global Competitiveness of the Life Sciences sector;

- Grow the AgTech and Food sector in the West;

- Expand prospects for sustainable entrepreneurship, employment and upskilling in tourism;

- Facilitate an equitable digital and green transformation in the West.

As we now move to the implementation phase of the Plan, the first Regional Steering Committee has been scheduled. The Committee is chaired by Evelyn O’Toole, founder and CEO of Complete Laboratory Solutions, and includes members from the Local Authorities, the Enterprise Agencies, LEOs, Regional Assemblies, Higher Education bodies and others, all of whom are focused on creating and sustaining employment opportunities for Mayo and the wider region.

Up to €180 million in funding is being made available over the coming months and years to underpin and drive the implementation of the Regional Enterprise Plans. This includes €5 million for a new competitive ‘priming scheme’ to help create a strong pipeline of projects for future funding calls. This scheme closed on 18 May 2022 and successful projects will be announced shortly.

Substantial funding will also be made available up to 2027 for regional enterprise projects under funding from the European Regional Development Fund and the Shared Island fund.

Mayo and the entire West region is full of potential and is very well positioned to compete for the new funding schemes. I strongly encourage all stakeholders to take advantage of the new funding to develop quality projects in the region.