Ministers English and Humphreys launch North-East Regional Enterprise Plan for Cavan, Louth and Monaghan
ttom up’ approach by people who have a real stake in their community. This model makes the plan unique and responsive to the opportunities and needs of the region, with a focus on regional collaboration.
Minister for Business, Employment and Retail, Damien English, outlined the importance of the plan, saying:
"I am delighted to be in Cavan today to launch the North-East Regional Enterprise Plan to 2024. Congratulations to Richard Hanlon, Chair of the North-East Steering Committee, Caroline Brady, North-East Programme Manager and all the Committee members for their work in delivering this ambitious plan.
"Throughout 2021, I had the pleasure of working with Richard and the Committee during the development of the plan and am delighted to see the final product. The North-East Plan contains five agreed ‘Strategic Objectives’ for enterprise development, accompanied by time-bound actions that deliver the objectives. The funding announced will allow the region pursue this ambitious plan and I look forward to working with Richard and the Steering Committee through to 2024."
Delivering balanced regional growth is a stated objective within the Programme for Government and in the Economic Recovery Plan 2021. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment contributes to the regional agenda in a number of ways, including through the enterprise agencies, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland; the Local Enterprise Offices and through national enterprise policy.
Minister for Social Protection and Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, also welcomed the plan saying:
"I am a strong supporter of the Regional Enterprise Plans, and how they encourage regional collaboration as a means to further new opportunities in the regions.
"As a native of the North-East, I am delighted to be here today. This new plan will build on the positive collaboration achieved through the previous versions. They also take account of the changed economic circumstances nationally, the emergence of new challenges to enterprise development and competitiveness, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit and ensure balanced economic advancement across the regions in Ireland."
Chair of the North-East Regional Steering Committee, Richard Hanlon said:
"I am delighted that Minister English and Minister Humphreys are here today to launch the North-East Regional Enterprise Plan.
"Following in-depth regional consultation we have produced a plan that is focused around themes of importance to our region’s stakeholders, particularly around digitalisation, climate action and focusing on key existing and emerging sectors in the North East. I must thank the Steering Committee members across counties Cavan, Louth and Monaghan for their time and commitment to the plan and I look forward to engaging with you all as we move to implementation stage."