The Final Progress Report for South East Regional Enterprise Plan to 2020 has been published today. See highlights, funding, and other information below.
During 2020 the South-East Region secured funding of €1,987,378 for three projects:
Enterprise Centres Fund
The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD, announced €775,655 in grants for nine enterprise centres in the South-East under Enterprise Ireland’s Enterprise Centres Fund. Enterprise centres are embedded in communities in every county in the country. They provide space and training for entrepreneurs, allowing them to work remotely, access training and advice, and network with other business leaders.
Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Local Enterprise Office activities and outcomes in the South-East Region during 2020:
In January 2020 it was reported that 19,868 people were employed by Enterprise Ireland supported companies across the South-East region, this represented a 3% growth in employment from the previous year and an employment growth of 25% over the last five years.
€2m in Regional Enterprise Development Funds were allocated for the South-East and the projects included:
- Lean Industry 4.0 Hub, Waterford
- Tradebridge Cluster Collaboration, Wexford
- Rural Entrepreneurship Project Carlow.
Employment growth of 3.6 percent in IDA Ireland supported companies was achieved in 2020. Total employment in IDA Ireland client companies in Ireland now stands at 257,394, accounting directly for 12.4 percent of COVID-19 adjusted national employment.
The Local Enterprise Offices supported 35,236 jobs across 7,529 client companies in 2020 of which there was an additional 82 companies outside of the Dublin region.
Regional Greenway/Blueway network: 2020 was another hugely significant year in terms of the development of a network of greenways, blueways and trails in the South-East. Over €15m in funding was secured and work has commenced on the 24km New Ross to Waterford Greenway (the South-East Greenway). Plans are being explored to link the South-East Greenway to not only the Waterford Greenway but also the Suir Blueway at Carrick-on-Suir. The Suir Blueway opened in May 2019 and also secured additional funding in 2020, the route includes 53km of walking, cycling and watersports trails from Cahir to Carrick-on-Suir.
For the South East Regional Enterprise Plan to 2020 — Final Progress Report, click here.
