7th January 2026
- €1.1 billion to support home-grown enterprises to grow and scale
- €400 million for tourism
- €100 million for large-scale sites for the next generation of semiconductor and pharma manufacturing
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD, today published his department’s Sectoral Capital Plan 2026-2030 as part of the government’s National Development Plan (NDP). The plan sets out how the department will spend €4.7 billion in capital investment over the next five years to strengthen Ireland’s enterprise and employment base, attract foreign direct investment, promote innovation and support tourism development across all regions.
Commenting on the plan’s long-term investment priorities Minister Burke said, “This is the largest ever investment in Ireland’s enterprise and innovation ecosystem, it is a €4.7 billion commitment to jobs, competitiveness and building the future—creating the advanced infrastructure and innovation ecosystem that global enterprises demand.”
Key allocations include:
- Helping enterprise to start, grow and scale, €1.12 billion
Supporting indigenous businesses through Enterprise Ireland grants (€355 million), Local Enterprise and Regional Development (€350 million), Seed and Venture Capital Programme (€250 million), and a new Scaling Fund for Irish SMEs (€100 million). - Attracting and sustaining inward investment, €1.29 billion
Investment through IDA Ireland, including €500 million for regional property solutions and €100 million for Next Generation FDI sites to secure large-scale advanced manufacturing projects. - Enterprise innovation and commercialisation, €1.33 billion
Funding for Technology Centres (€190 million), Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (€196 million), European Space Agency programmes (€170 million) and €120 million for Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) - Tourism development and promotion, €400 million
Delivering the new tourism policy “A New Era for Irish Tourism”, including €77 million for overseas marketing and €200 million for product development. - Enterprise decarbonisation, €300 million
Supporting industry to reduce emissions and transition to low-carbon operations.
Minister Burke said,
“We can’t compete for tomorrow’s opportunities with yesterday’s offering. This plan represents a transformative and significant investment in Ireland’s future. By delivering on the Programme for Government and the National Development Plan, we are creating the conditions for businesses to thrive, innovate and compete globally. Government’s €4.7 billion investment will strengthen Irish SMEs, attract cutting-edge FDI, and attract more visitors to our shores, ensuring that prosperity is shared across all regions.
Minister of State for Employment, Small Business and Retail, Alan Dillon TD, highlighted how,
“Regional development is at the heart of this plan. Through targeted investment in property solutions and enterprise infrastructure, we will ensure that businesses in every part of Ireland can grow and succeed.”
Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, Niamh Smyth TD, went on to say,
“Innovation is the engine of competitiveness. By investing in disruptive technologies, research collaborations and digital transformation, we are positioning Ireland as a global leader in advanced manufacturing, AI and space technologies.”
Example projects
- Delivery of Next Generation FDI sites to attract large-scale semiconductor and biopharma investments.
- Expansion of Enterprise Ireland’s Scaling Fund and Seed and Venture Capital Programme to support high-growth Irish firms to scale at home.
- Development of regional enterprise hubs and advanced manufacturing centres under the Smart Regions Scheme.
- Investment in tourism infrastructure and overseas marketing to attract one million additional visitors annually.
- Support for enterprise decarbonisation projects to meet Climate Action Plan targets.
ENDS
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