Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

17. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the implementation plan 2025-2026 of the White Paper on Enterprise has been published; the progress made to support indigenous enterprises since the publication of the white paper; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20529/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The White Paper on Enterprise was published by Government in 2022 and focused on enabling Irish-based enterprise to succeed through competitive advantage founded on sustainability, innovation and productivity, delivering rewarding jobs and livelihoods.

The White Paper Implementation Plan 2023-2024 was subsequently developed in May 2023, and focused on ensuring the commitments set out in the White Paper on Enterprise were realised, identifying a portfolio of 40 key initiatives across all seven policy priorities detailed in the White Paper. Progress on the implementation of these 40 key initiatives has been monitored through biannual update reports, where three update reports have been published by my Department to-date.

The fourth and final update report, covering the period H2 2024, was developed during Q1 of this year and will be published in the coming weeks. The latest report indicates that out of the 93 activities which underpin the 40 initiatives set out in the 2023-2024 Implementation Plan, over 90% of these are now complete or on track for completion. This is a testament to the hard work and collective efforts across whole-of-Government in ensuring the White Paper’s vision was ultimately realised.

Since the launch of the White Paper, significant progress has been achieved in expanding the scale and depth of supports for our indigenous enterprise base. These span across the seven pillars of the White Paper and include a multitude of supports for indigenous firms in the areas of: decarbonisation, digitalisation, entrepreneurship and start-ups as well as scaling and exporting. The expansion of the LEO mandate to develop the export potential of Irish businesses, bridging the gap in supports for companies with 10-50 employees, was also a commitment ultimately realised. An additional range of support packages have also been rolled out to SMEs during this period, helping to bolster the resiliency and sustainability of Irish enterprise within an increasingly challenging global economy.

Key metrics for the implementation of the White Paper on Enterprise also indicated a significant strengthening of our domestic sector, including enhanced performance in areas such as: digital intensity of SMEs, indigenous enterprise productivity and number of exporting firms. Metrics related to greater regional balance through increased investment and job creation outside of Dublin have also been met.

The 2025 Programme for Government includes a commitment to publish a new enterprise strategy, Enterprise 2035, as a long-term ambition for enterprise growth and job creation over the coming decade. This policy will supersede the White Paper on Enterprise, maintaining a focus on building on Ireland’s strengths as an open economy with strong trade and foreign direct investment, a vibrant innovation ecosystem and a resilient labour market, while also adapting to new challenges in an increasingly uncertain world.