11th July 2017
Minister Pat Breen welcomes the EU decision to award Ireland’s Northern and Western Region as European Entrepreneurial Region, 2018
Minister for Business at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Pat Breen TD, today welcomed the EU decision to award Ireland’s Northern and Western Region as European Entrepreneurial Region 2018.
The counties involved are Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Sligo, Roscommon, Leitrim, Monaghan and Cavan.
On his visit to the Local Enterprise Office in Galway today, Minister of State for Business, Mr Pat Breen TD, met with a number of local businesses and entrepreneurs. Welcomed by Kevin Kelly of Galway County Council, and Breda Fox, Head of Enterprise at LEO Galway, the Minister also paid a visit to PorterShed in Eyre Square, the GMIT iHub on the Dublin Road, and met with Chris Murphy from Bluedrop Medical and a number of LEO clients participating in a LEO training session.
Emphasising the importance of start-ups and small business to the rural economy, Minister Breen said “New start-ups and small businesses are critical for the Irish economy as a whole, and for balanced regional development. I am greatly encouraged to see first-hand the level of entrepreneurial activity in Galway and the genuine talent, commitment and imagination of local entrepreneurs. I am also delighted with the announcement that the Northern and Western Region has been designated European Entrepreneurial Region, 2018 by the European Union. The European Entrepreneurial Region (EER) is a project that identifies and rewards EU regions and cities which show an outstanding and innovative entrepreneurial policy strategy, irrespective of their size, wealth and competences.
He added:
“So this award is a tangible demonstration of the fact that entrepreneurship and the appetite for more start-ups in Galway and the surrounding counties is alive and well. It is also a testament to the fact that the LEOs – working with other agencies and organisations – are central to delivering on the ambition of helping people to help themselves, building a culture of entrepreneurship and enterprise, delivering jobs in every County in Ireland.”
The LEOs are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and ‘soft’ supports in the form of training and mentoring to anyone wishing to start or grow a business. They provide a ‘signposting’ service in relation to all relevant state supports available through agencies such as Revenue, the Department of Social Protection, Education and Training Boards, Credit Review Office, Microfinance Ireland. The LEOs also offer advice and guidance in areas such as Local Authority rates, Public Procurement and other regulations affecting business. For further details on LEO supports, visit www.localenterprise.ie
ENDS
For further information contact Press Office, D/Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation ph. 6312200 or press.office@djei.ie
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