By Business & Finance 
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny
Details of the Enterprise Ireland fund were revealed in Athlone with 20 business-people from across the country who have been named as Enterprise Champions, responsible for helping to implement the Regional Jobs Plans in each area of the country.
Seven of the eight Regional Jobs Plans have now been published, covering every area of the country except Dublin, with publication of the final Dublin plan scheduled for the coming weeks.
The eight jobs plans are aimed at creating 220,000 extra jobs across the country over the coming years, which specific targets for each region aimed at ensuring that the unemployment rate in every region is within 1% of the average across the State.
It is hoped the €40m fund will help incentivise organisations, such as Local Authorities, education institutions, State agencies, to work together on a regional basis in the interests of job-creation.
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny said: “I am delighted to be announcing this €40m fund as part of the next stage in our Regional Jobs Plans roll-out. Our aim is to ensure that every region can achieve its economic potential and that the benefits of the recovery are felt in every region, county and community in the country. This competitive fund has at its heart one of the key elements of our Regional Jobs Strategy – maximising local strengths through a coordinated effort from all local stakeholders. Everyone has to pull together to foster enterprise and create jobs. The Government is determined to keep the recovery going and deliver sustainable full employment by 2020 and these Regional Jobs Plans are a significant milestone on the journey.”
Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland, commented: “Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting regional business growth and development. This new €40m competitive regional jobs fund will facilitate more new companies being started up and scaled, which is a key priority for Enterprise Ireland. It will also encourage greater collaboration between the research and business communities, which will help to develop more innovative companies and ultimately, more sustainable jobs at a regional level.”
