Press release
85% of initiatives complete or on track for completion - White Paper on Enterprise Third Update Report
From Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke, today launched the Third Update Report on the White Paper on Enterprise Implementation Plan 2023-2024. This latest Update Report outlines the work undertaken by Government for the first 6 months of 2024, in progressing the 40 initiatives identified in the Implementation Plan. Details on progress made against the 15 key target metrics identified in the White Paper are also provided, including objectives related to employment and job creation, as well as balanced growth across regions and domestic sectors.
Speaking of the Report, Minister Burke said:
"It is wonderful to see the continued progress that has been made on a whole-of-government basis to realise the vision originally set out in the White Paper on Enterprise since the beginning of 2023. This strategy continues to enable Irish-based enterprise to prosper through competitive advantage, founded on sustainability, innovation and productivity, ensuring Ireland remains a world class destination in which to live, work and do business.
"Government remains committed to ensuring our aspirations as set out in the White Paper are delivered. This latest report highlights that over 85% of the 40 activities outlined in the 2023-2024 implementation plan are now delivered or are on track for delivery against their intended timelines. The strong progress made during 2023 has continued well into 2024, where the first six months saw the achievement of various key milestones across each of the seven priority policy pillars set out in the White Paper. These include the publication and implementation of our national strategy for offshore wind - Powering Prosperity, completion of the NIBRT Advanced Therapeutics Extension, the launch a new digital portal to help enterprise avail of a range of supports available to support them on their digitalisation journey as well as the publication of the Roadmap for Decarbonisation of Industrial Heat."
The report shows a significant increase in the measures implemented to support Irish Small and Medium Enterprises, with Enterprise Ireland supporting 425 climate projects, whilst the commencement of the €33.4 million KT Boost Programme will support the next generation of spinouts and High Potential Start-Ups. Funding also continued through various schemes focused on supporting Irish-based enterprise in enhancing their digital capacity, carbon reduction and several energy efficiency measures, such as the Energy Efficiency Grant, Green for Business, The Trading Online Voucher and The Grow Digital Voucher.
Minister Burke added:
"We know the importance of safeguarding Ireland`s future competitiveness, and ultimately our future economic wellbeing. In this regard, Government remains deeply commitment to enhancing Ireland’s competitiveness as set out in the White Paper. Progress during the first half of 2024 included enhancements to green skills provisions, the publication of a report on increasing access to finance to develop a Scaling Ecosystem, as well as progress on the modernisation of construction and infrastructure provisions through Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), Construct Innovate and the Housing for All priority research programmes."
Full employment has been maintained across 2023 and into the first 6 months of 2024. Targets for more balanced regional employment and investment continue to be met during 2024 with the vast majority of key metrics moving in a positive direction.
The commitments set out in the White Paper on Enterprise, published in 2022, represent an ambitious vision for enterprise policy in the period to 2030, which will work to enable Irish-based enterprise to succeed through competitive advantage founded on sustainability, innovation and productivity, delivering rewarding jobs and livelihoods.
The 15 target metrics in the White Paper on Enterprise cover the government’s ambitions across the areas of employment and seven identified priority policy objectives:
Progress on the Implementation Plan is overseen by the Cabinet Committee on the Economy and Investment and will continue to be reported on in biannual publications. The next Update Report detailing the progress made during the second half of 2024 will be developed and published in early 2025.