Employment and Enterprise - northeast

The expansion of the IDA Regional Property Programme will attract investment to the northeast region.

Enterprise Ireland will help 1,000 firms to develop and implement sustainability and growth plans.

New Regional Sectoral Clusters will be developed involving small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and multinationals. They will collaborate with research centres and third-level institutions, with the aim of growing and internationalising enterprise in all regions.

2018 will also see the launch of the second phase of the Regional Enterprise Development Fund, as part of Project Ireland 2040, which will total €60 million.

Enterprise Ireland and local enterprise offices are supporting exposed enterprises with targeted programmes to improve their competitiveness and innovation performance, and to help them increase trade in new markets. It is part of a government strategy to support and equip SMEs for the challenges of Brexit.

A €300 million loan fund is also open to businesses of less than 500 employees - nationwide - which are exposed to the impact of Brexit, with at least 40% of the fund being set aside for agrifood businesses.

See Project Ireland 2040 (PDF, from page 60) for the full detail.