Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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63. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on his plans to establish start-up Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50580/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The establishment of Start-up Ireland is a key priority under the Action Plan for Competitiveness and Productivity.

Delivered by Enterprise Ireland, on behalf of my Department, it aims to support 1,000 new startups between 2025 and 2029 by helping founders to start, connect, and scale. The initiative will address the challenges, identified by a recent OECD report on the Irish start-up ecosystem, by providing for more integrated supports and coordinated pathways for entrepreneurs, and by targeting specific funding gaps.

This new central coordinating approach will enhance alignment and collaboration across the national start-up ecosystem, creating a more cohesive and founder-first ecosystem. Start-up Ireland will also oversee the rollout of a new National Accelerator Programme, succeeding the NDRC, and will act as a national focal point for policy, investment, and ecosystem development, aligning with European and global best practices.

The recent OECD report 'Supporting start-up globalisation in Ireland through incubation and acceleration' also recommended that Ireland promotes a flagship national entrepreneurship campus. This recommendation is reflected in the Programme for Government commitment to consider the development of a national start-up hub for entrepreneurs to engage with all Government Departments and agencies, fast-track the start-up process, and collaborate with fellow entrepreneurs.

Planning and consultation for Start-up Ireland are well advanced, with Enterprise Ireland set to deliver the initiative on behalf of my Department.