Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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75. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which there is untapped potential for clustering in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43501/24]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Published in December of 2022, the Government's White Paper on Enterprise 2022-2030 sets out Ireland`s industrial policy for the medium- to long-term, with the aim of ensuring Irish-based enterprise succeeds through competitive advantage founded on sustainability, innovation and productivity and delivering rewarding jobs and livelihoods. The White Paper marks a step change in the recognition of clustering in the Irish context, acknowledging it as a key tool for achieving enterprise policy objectives. These include driving innovation, attracting and embedding FDI, developing linkages between multinationals and indigenous firms and driving the twin transitions of green and digital.

Ireland already has a rich and vibrant clustering ecosystem which includes the 12 clusters currently being funded under the Regional Technology Clustering Fund. That fund was recently extended for a further two year period, which will enable the continuation of the work of these clusters and bring state support of these clusters to six which is in line with international best practice for funding of clusters.

The White Paper on Enterprise proposes the establishment of a National Clustering Programme (NCP), with a target to fund up to 5 national cluster organisations by 2025 subject to available funds. I am pleased to announce that my Department has received a dedicated funding stream for the National Clustering Programme in the recent budget, which marks a further step forward in the recognition of the value of clustering. As you will appreciate, the amount of funding for the National Clustering Programme will not be finalised until the Revised Estimates are published at the end of November. However, I am very pleased to have secured a dedicated fund for the National Clustering Programme which will enable us to deliver the White Paper’s vision for a more coordinated approach to clustering in Ireland and ensure we can fully harness the potential which clustering presents for enhancing competitiveness.