Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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62. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for a report on the implementation of the South East Regional Enterprise Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43434/24]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Balanced regional enterprise development is a key focus for me and this Government as set out in the White Paper on Enterprise. My Department contributes to this agenda in several ways, including through the development, implementation and oversight of nine Regional Enterprise Plans, or REPs.

The South-East REP is implemented at a regional level by a Steering Committee made up of stakeholders from Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford. Patsy Carney is Chairperson of the South-East REP Steering Committee.

My Department oversees implementation of the REPs at the national level. A meeting of the National Oversight Group for the REPs, where implementation across all REPs will be discussed, is planned for Wednesday 6th November. I have decided, in consultation with key stakeholders in the REPs initiative, to extend the current plans for one year to the end of 2025 to allow for further implementation of current objectives and actions.

On Wednesday, Minister Calleary attended the most recent South-East Steering Committee online. The agenda was full and included updates on the implementation of the REP and various funded projects, as well as the work in the region regarding offshore wind and Smart Specialisation.

Some highlights of the South-East REP include:

• SEAM Research Centre, of South-East Technological University (SETU), has secured €4.8 million funding under the Technology Gateway Programme of Enterprise Ireland. This phase 3 Technology Gateway Programme is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Southern Regional Assembly.
• Walton Institute at SETU announced the launch of COALESCE, a pioneering initiative that aims to improve the efficiency and sustainability of energy grids and data and telecommunication networks through a new multidisciplinary, international staff exchange programme.
• The South-East is continuing its work to prepare the region to take advantage of the economic opportunity presented by offshore wind. Officials from the Offshore Wind Strategy Unit in my Department hosted the first meeting with Offshore Wind Working Groups in September 2024. It was attended by my officials, and representatives from the South-East, West and North-West, and South-East REPs.