Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party)
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149. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to expand the regional business innovation centres to include the Midwest region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9221/23]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The regional business innovation centres (BICs) which are part-funded through Enterprise Ireland, provide tailored, high level supports to entrepreneurs to convert their innovative ideas into a commercial reality and are helping start-up enterprises to become investor ready. I understand that the Cork BIC services both the South and Mid-West regions including the Halo Business Angel Network for those regions.

Additional funding has been provided, however, for the BICs through the Budget 2023 process for expanding and enhancing their regional activities including to support strategic targeted measures in Counties which are not currently fully serviced by the BICs.