Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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399. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline the work being carried out by his Department, in conjunction with other Departments, on the development of an all-Ireland enterprise hub; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47591/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My colleague, Minister Burke, launched the National Enterprise Hub (NEH) last July. The NEH was designed as an entry point to aid business owners find relevant supports and help for their business.

The NEH platform has expanded considerably and now offers information and support on over 250 government supports from 32 different Government bodies, including InterTradeIreland.

The NEH continues to undergo development to refine and improve its services and to enhance the manner in which data is captured and used to ensure it is providing useful insights that will be used to inform policy. Since launching last year, the NEH has dealt with over 7,500 enquires. Monthly numbers have increased consistently with over 700 queries received in August alone which is more than double the number recorded in January.

Insights from the NEH are shared with stakeholders through a coordination group, with representatives from Government Departments and agencies, that is chaired by my Department and meets quarterly. Enterprise Ireland's NEH team also chairs a monthly operations meeting to share ongoing insights.

The Deputy might also be aware of InterTradeIreland’s Trade Hub which is a central resource developed to support and enhance cross-border trade between Ireland and Northern Ireland, with a particular focus on assisting SMEs. It provides fully funded expert advice on key trade issues, a comprehensive knowledge base covering customs, VAT, regulation, employment, logistics, and distribution, as well as live and online helpdesk support. The Hub also offers tailored strategies to help businesses reduce the costs and risks associated with exporting. It supports businesses in navigating complex regulations, streamlining cross-border logistics, accessing up-to-date trade information, and identifying new trade opportunities, while also offering webinars, workshops, and trade events. The Trade Hub complements InterTradeIreland’s broader suite of supports, which include funding and mentoring for cross-border R&D and innovation, assistance for first-time exporters, entrepreneurship and business growth programmes, and economic and trade research to inform policy.

In 2024, InterTradeIreland reported €132 million in business development, contributing to a cumulative €1.6 billion in Business Development value since its inception, with over 50,000 businesses supported and more than 19,500 jobs created or protected across the island.

We will continue to support ongoing enhancements of these Hubs to ensure seamless access to State support for business.