The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD, with
Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail Damien English TD and Minister of State
for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation Robert Troy TD, were in Nenagh today
(Friday 18/02) to launch €180m Plans to boost Regional Development across the country.
Included in the launch were details for The Mid-West Region, including Tipperary, which has
secured over €16m in approved funding for 8 projects under the REDF and RETS.
Deputy Michael Lowry, who attended the launch, heard details of the MidWest allocation.
‘Tipperary Innovation Engine will benefit from Co-Working Space Provision, while other Mid-
West projects include Innovate Limerick – Hospital Foods DAC (Digital Collaboration Centre as a
hub of applied disruptive technology innovation), Emerald Aero Cluster CLG (Aerospace Cluster
Development), Emerald Aerospace Group (Aerospace Cluster Development), Irish Bioeconomy
Foundation (Bioeconomy Innovation & Piloting Facility), Clare Maritime Economic Zone DAC
(Maritime related training and field research support), BNest Social Initiative DAC (Project to
develop business capability of social entrepreneurs), Future Mobility Campus Ireland
CLG(Provision of CAV Test Facility)’ he said.
Speaking in Nenagh the Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar, said “As a Government we are committed to
bringing jobs and investment to every part of the country. One of my priorities as Minister for
Enterprise is to have 2.5 million people employed in the country by 2024. We want these to be
good, long-term jobs in every county. We’ve developed nine, region-specific plans to do this
and are investing up to €180m to aid their implementation.
‘We want this to be a bottom-up approach, led by the local community, as they know what’s
best for their area.
‘We’ve chosen the Mid-West for the first one, and the remainder will be launched over the
coming weeks.
‘The Plans, which set out actions to 2024 will each contain agreed ‘Strategic Objectives’ for
enterprise development, accompanied by time-bound actions that deliver the objectives. Up to
€180m has been secured to drive implementation of the Plans.
‘Each of the nine plans have been developed throughout 2021 by Regional Steering
Committees. Each Regional Committee is chaired by a senior figure from the private sector and
includes the Enterprise Agencies, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, Local Enterprise Offices,
Local Authorities, Regional Assemblies, higher and further education bodies and others. The
plans also complement Our Rural Future, the whole-of-government framework to develop rural
Ireland in the coming years’
Professor Eamonn Murphy, Chair of the Mid-West Regional Steering Committee said
the plan is the result of in depth regional consultation and with key players. I must thank the
Steering Committee for their time and commitment to the Plan. One of the real success stories
of the Mid-West REP is our ability to work collaboratively with a regional mindset. This plan
when implemented will further enhance the strategic importance of this region nationally and
internationally.”