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Ministers of State with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Robert Troy TD and Damien English TD today announced the successful applicants under the government’s Regional Enterprise Transition Scheme (RETS) Feasibility Funding. The funding, totalling €548,250, will see 18 feasibility studies carried out in the coming months across a range of projects throughout the country.
Delivered for the government through Enterprise Ireland, the Feasibility Funding was launched in July as part of the €10 million Regional Enterprise Transition Scheme (RETS). The purpose of the funding is to support detailed evaluation of early-stage opportunities for new impactful regional enterprise development projects and the grants approved range from €20,000 to €50,000 per project.
Early last month, Ministers Troy and English announced further funding of €9.3 million for 24 projects under the RETS to assist regional projects affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and by other regional challenges following the UK’s departure from the EU.
Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Robert Troy TD said:
"I want to congratulate the successful applicants from across the regions that have been approved funding under the Regional Enterprise Transition Scheme Feasibility Funding. This funding will support early-stage project development and aims to create a pipeline of future enterprise development projects across all regions originating in particular from the nine Regional Enterprise Plans.
"The feasibility funding, along with the €9.3 million in funding I recently announced under the Regional Enterprise Transition Scheme which provided grant support for 24 enterprise development projects in the regions, will create a pipeline of projects for future regional funding calls and support the government’s ambition to strengthen the enterprise development capabilities of our regions."
Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Damien English TD said:
"Balanced regional development is a priority for me and Government. The feasibility funding announced today will provide assistance for early-stage project development and allow promoters to test their product concept and deliver virtual or site-based solutions to their target audience.
"There is a huge appetite across Ireland to facilitate regional enterprise and grow job opportunities and I am delighted to see plans progressing for additional workspaces, remote hubs, clustering, and innovative supports for businesses across Ireland. This funding will improve the capability and competitiveness of regional enterprises and encourage entrepreneurial activity among our vibrant SME community."
Mark Christal, Manager, Regions and Entrepreneurship with Enterprise Ireland said:
"The funding allocated today will ensure we maintain a strong pipeline of regionally impactful enterprise projects into the future. It is important that we support early-stage projects in their development and planning as Irish enterprise addresses significant challenges, including assisting companies recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues such as digitalisation, emissions reductions, and our new trading relationship with the UK. Enterprise Ireland looks forward to working collaboratively with the projects allocated funding under this measure and seeing their potential come to fruition."
| Applicant Name | County | Project Title | Project Summary |
| Cavan County Enterprise Fund | Cavan | To appoint an Architect led design team to prepare plans for a c.10, 000 sq ft. Food Enterprise Centre at Dublin Road, Cavan. | The project plan consists of the appointment of a multi-disciplinary architect led design team, to determine the feasibility and develop fully costed and tender ready plans for a c.10,000 sq. ft. food incubation/enterprise centre to be located at Dublin Road, Cavan. This will include procurement of planning permission, DAC, and fire safety certificate. |
| Donegal County Enterprise Fund | Donegal | To investigate the feasibility of establishing a Food Coast Incubation Centre at Glenties Enterprise Centre, Co Donegal. | To investigate the technical and business feasibility to establish the Food Coast Incubation Centre, comprising infrastructure of scale including specialist food production units, co-working innovation kitchens, and scaling and growth support services to respond to pressing industry challenges of COVID-19, sustainability and climate change (particularly pertinent in farming and fishing sector) and Brexit. |
| Larionad Achmhainni Nadurtha Cuideachta Faoi Theorainn Ráthaíochta (CLG) | Donegal | A Gaeltacht-based social enterprise working to promote Northwest Donegal as a region known for sustainability, biodiversity, and low-carbon food production. | The overall objective of the Cill Ulta: Northwest Bioeconomy Hub is to develop an integrated regional bioeconomy hub in the Northwest, by focusing on biological and technological innovations within the regional bioeconomy to drive sustainable economic, cultural, social and ecological innovation, job creation, learning and research opportunities and entrepreneurial talent. |
| Leitrim County Council | Leitrim | Capitalising on the wind renewable energy potential in the Irish Atlantic region | To investigate how the public bodies/educational bodies can assist in guiding the development and growth of the supply chain for the existing on shore wind industry and transitioning it into the emerging offshore wind generation sector, while also informing the industry and industry stakeholders about the diversification and development opportunities available. |
| Innovate Dublin Communities CLG | Dublin | To explore adding digital solutions to their current and new programmes that will allow a wider reach nationally and internationally for Innovate Communities. | To explore the creation of an online platform that can be used to promote and facilitate capacity building and community-driven/led innovation activity by engaging, empowering and upskilling community, business and governance actors to facilitate the development of local solutions to local problems. |
| County Kildare Community Network Company CLG | Kildare | National Equine Innovation Centre Study | To investigate the regional and national demand for the expansion of the National Equine Innovation Centre (NEIC) at the current footprint in the Irish National Stud Co Kildare where a pilot will commence this month. The feasibility study will carry out a commercial and technical investigation and will undertake detailed value for money analysis, revenue modelling and economic benefits analysis. The project is supported by key stakeholders in the equine industry and aligns with regional development plans. CKCN has a strong track record in delivering impactful economic initiatives. The outcome of the study, if favourable, will support and inform a future Regional Funds application in 2022. |
| Westmeath County Council | Westmeath | Feasibility research study, business case and technical assessment of the development and promotion of enterprise space and opportunities in Ballynacarrigy, Westmeath | To assess the feasibility and impact of developing an enterprise zone in Ballynacarrigy to promote economic growth in the region and surrounds. The development of an enterprise zone and an enterprise hub would on first review appear to be a suitable solution; the purpose of the study proposed is to validate these views and create a robust economic development plan based upon the outcomes. |
| Carrick on Suir Economic Development 2040 CLG | Tipperary | Feasibility Study to determine the potential of phase 1.5 of Stable Lane Digital Hub to develop and accommodate further digital, blue chip and pharma SMEs in the area. | Stable Lane Digital Hub (phase 1) is open and is at full capacity currently. Therefore there is now an investigation of an interim hub to facilitate and accommodate SME’s as well as blue chip companies while the establishment of phase 2 is underway. The Digital Hubs and Business Enterprise Centre will see businesses working both nationally and internationally, will be helping SME’s through a mentorship programme and promoting Entrepreneurship. The Digital Hubs and business centres will be located in the town of Carrick-on-Suir. |
| Clare County Council | Clare | Innovation Centre at Ballymaley Business Park, Ennis | To develop an enterprise and innovation centre at Ballymaley Business Park in Ennis to meet the needs of emerging early-stage innovative companies and newly established entrepreneurs and provide a space for them to develop and grow. This project is being led by Clare County Council with the support of the Clare Economic Task Force. |
| Clonmel Business Development Park CLG | Tipperary | Clonmel co-working space and digital hub | To carry out an extensive Feasibility Study to establish the needs and provide possible solutions to the current lack of availability of suitable accommodation in Clonmel Town for use as a co-working space, digital hub, workspace hub, or an Enterprise Development Hub that provides flexible co-working and individual office spaces. |
| Irish Bioeconomy Foundation | Tipperary | Investigation on construction of dairy equipment for Irish Bioeconomy Foundation (IBF) project. | To investigate the construction and installation of a 1 – 1.5 tonne boutique dryer and associated drying/dehydrating of food ingredient including niche dairy (ovine and bovine), plant and value added flavour ingredients at IBF facility. |
| Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership | Limerick | Film Industry Infrastructure feasibility study. | The creation of a multi-functional Creative Industries Centre of scale at LEDP, compromising Ireland’s first virtual production studio and appropriate space to facilitate and encourage indigenous SME sub suppliers to the Film Industry in a regeneration area. |
| Carlow Community Enterprise Centres CLG | Carlow | Carlow Co.Co intend to undertake a feasibility study into the development of two enterprise campus centres in Carlow. | To assess the viability of developing two enterprise campus locations, based in Carlow town and Bagenalstown; both of which are to offer enterprise development supports and employment generation opportunities. |
| Waterford Chamber of Commerce | Waterford | Business representative organisation. | To examine the feasibility of revitalising a historic City Centre by leveraging the new Technological University expansion to provide a new student accommodation and student hub. |
| Cork City Council | Cork | To evaluate the expansion and development of the Northside for Business Campus to the adjacent Cork City Council site. | To evaluate the feasibility of expanding/doubling the footprint/capacity of the Northside for Business Campus. |
| Kerry County Council | Kerry | Kerry Economic Development Growth Engine | To identify the potential to develop a strategic economic development corporation called Kerry EDGE to lead, support and coordinate public and private resources to drive economic development in the Kerry region. |
| Kerry Innovation Centre CLG | Kerry | A connected e-health and community wellbeing innovation district. | To explore the need, potential for and viability of a connected e-health & community wellbeing innovation district for the Region encompassing Kerry, Cork and Limerick. |
| Munster Technological University | Cork | Design of Applied R&D Space to investigate feasibility to accommodate MTU Consultancy and Innovation Services | Design of Applied R&D space to accommodate MTU Consultancy and Innovation Services for industry and facilitate the co-location of companies/SME staff on campus, specifically for co-creation innovation projects with MTU staff-MTU Co Creation Lab. |
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) plays a key role in implementing the government’s policies of stimulating the productive capacity of the economy and creating an environment which supports job creation and maintenance. The department has lead responsibility for Irish policy on global trade and inward investment and a remit to promote fair competition in the marketplace, protect consumers and safeguard workers.
For further information please contact Press Office, D/Enterprise, Trade and Employment, press.office@enterprise.gov.ie or (01) 631-2200.