Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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67. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if specific additional financial supports will be introduced in 2023 to assist in the development of enterprise centres, in view of their importance in providing workspace for start-up businesses and small enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44919/22]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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To date, my Department has provided funding of €250 million, administered by Enterprise Ireland, to assist the establishment of some 270 Enterprise Centres throughout Ireland.

In 2022, €5 million in funding was made available to Community Enterprise Centres though the Regional Enterprise Innovation and Scoping Scheme.

Since 2017, Enterprise Ireland has administered Departmental funding to 91 projects totalling over €16 million under both the Regional Enterprise Development Fund and the Community Enterprise Centres Schemes with a further €8 million in grants administered through EI for 95 Enterprise Centres to sustain their businesses through Covid - 19 and to assist in the development of start-up companies and in the provision of remote working spaces.

A broad range of other hub-type facilities, both publicly and privately funded, exist nationwide, including Community Enterprise Centres and incubators and accelerators. The Department of Rural and Community Development has also invested significantly in remote working infrastructure and connectivity through the Broadband Connection Point Network initiative including the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Leader Programme.

The first allocation of €3 million in Budget 2022 was announced for the European Digital Innovation Hubs. This is part of the EU Digital Europe Programme, which will provide over time, a total of €13 million in funding to Ireland. It is aimed at bringing digital technology to businesses, SMEs, citizens and the public sector.

Finally, I expect funding to be provided under the new co-funded ERDF Programmes in the coming years to, amongst other things, support collaborative and innovative regional projects, including the development of enterprise centres and hubs, across all regions.