Minister Damien English launches new Regional Enterprise Plan for Cork and Kerry

26th April 2022

Up to €180 million to be available for regional enterprise development projects across the country

Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail Damien English TD, was at the RDI Hub in Killorglin today to launch the South-West Regional Enterprise Plan (REP) to 2024.

The South-West Plan, covering counties Cork and Kerry, is one of nine new enterprise plans throughout the country which will be funded by up to €180 million.

This funding will drive the implementation of the plans which will develop and implement collaborative and innovation enterprise projects in the regions and support sustainable jobs.

The REPs offer a distinct mechanism to further the regional development ambition and have been developed using a ‘bottom up’ approach by people who have a real stake in their community. This model makes the Plan unique and responsive to the opportunities and needs of the region, with a focus on regional collaboration.

Speaking at the launch, Minister English said:

“I am delighted to be here in Fexco at the RDI Hub in Killorglin to launch the South-West Regional Enterprise Plan to 2024.

Congratulations to Patricia Quane, Chair of the South-West Steering Committee and the local Committee members for their work in delivering this new Plan for the region. I would like to welcome Jonathan Hoare as the new Programme Manager for the South-West and wish him the very best in driving enterprise development in Cork and Kerry over the coming years.

Throughout 2021, extensive consultation was carried out with regional stakeholders in the development of this new Plan and am I pleased to see the final product unveiled today. The South-West Plan contains six agreed ‘Strategic Objectives’ for enterprise development, accompanied by time-bound actions that will deliver new opportunities for employers and the workforce in the region.

The Plan is focused on the region’s enterprise eco-system; the potential of digital enterprise and innovation hubs; supporting cluster organisations; sustainable food production and Agri-Tech; embracing the opportunities of climate action whilst ensuring a strong pipeline of talent in the region.

The funding announced will drive the implementation of this ambitious Plan and I look forward to working with Patricia and the Steering Committee through to 2024 in building on the key strengths in Cork and Kerry and driving further growth and employment in the region.”

Delivering balanced regional growth is a stated objective within the Programme for Government and in the Economic Recovery Plan 2021. The Department contributes to the regional agenda in a number of ways, including through the enterprise agencies, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland; the Local Enterprise Offices and through national enterprise policy.

Chair of the South-West Regional Committee, Patricia Quane said:

“I would like to thank Minister English for coming to Killorglin today to launch the South-West Regional Enterprise Plan.

Thanks to the extensive collaboration and consultation in the region a progressive plan has been developed which sets out an ambitious vision for the South-West for the next three years. We have sought to be strategic, choosing areas where the region has strengths, potential and promise.

The core themes of Resilience and Recovery, Transition to low carbon, Enterprise Innovation, and Regional Competitiveness run through every Strategic Objective. The Plan deliberately places strong emphasis on the economic opportunities and potential of climate action and digitalisation.

I want to sincerely thank the Programme Manager, Steering Committee, Project Delivery Teams and all the regional stakeholders who have contributed to the development of this plan.

We now move to implementation, and I look forward to working with all regional stakeholders to put into practice and reality the actions in the Plan.” 

The South-West Regional Enterprise Plan to 2024 can be accessed on the Department’s website - South-West Regional Enterprise Plan to 2024. 

ENDS

Notes to Editor

Nine new REPs to 2024 have been developed throughout 2021 by Regional Steering Committees. Each Regional Committee is chaired by a senior figure from private sector and include the Enterprise Agencies, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, Local Enterprise Offices, Local Authorities, Regional Assemblies, higher and further education bodies and others.

Because of their regional nature, the Plans bring a focus and collaborative effort to address specific regional ecosystem gaps and act on the strengths and opportunities unique to each region, adding value to and complementing the ongoing work of the individual enterprise agencies and development bodies in the region.

Up to €180 million is being made available to drive implementation of the Plans. 

To create a strong pipeline of projects for future funding calls, Enterprise Ireland has announced a new competitive ‘priming’ and ‘feasibility’ scheme fund of up to €5 million. This Scheme is now open for applications and details can be accessed on Enterprise Ireland’s website.

The South-West Regional Enterprise Plan to 2024 includes the following Strategic Objectives:

1: Enhance the enterprise eco-system across the region through innovation, entrepreneurship and digitalisation. 

2: Maximise the potential of digital enterprise and innovation hubs to support digitalisation, business growth, climate action and smart working            

3: Support Cluster Organisations in driving the development and growth of enterprises.

4: Bolster the South-West as a leader in sustainable Food Production and Agri-Tech through education, technology, and innovation.       

5: Embrace the opportunities of Climate Action in the Marine, Circular Bioeconomy, Tourism and Energy Sectors.

6: Ensure a strong pipeline of talent in the region, focusing on sustainable high-quality jobs.

Projects funded to date in the South-West under the Regional Enterprise Development Fund, Border Enterprise Development Fund and Regional Enterprise Transition Scheme

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