154. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he is taking any action to build up the number of medium-sized enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30501/26]

Enterprise Ireland plays a central role in supporting medium-sized Irish enterprises to strengthen their competitiveness, grow employment and expand internationally. As outlined in its Strategy 2025–2029, Enterprise Ireland works with companies that have moved beyond early-stage growth and now require structured support to improve productivity, resilience and leadership capability. For medium-sized firms, this typically includes access to development advisors, funding for capital investment and innovation, and targeted programmes to enhance operational efficiency, digitalisation and sustainability, all aimed at helping firms compete effectively in increasingly complex global markets.

A key focus for medium-sized enterprises is scaling and international growth. Enterprise Ireland provides practical assistance to help these companies enter new export markets, diversify their customer base and deepen their international footprint. This support includes market intelligence, introductions through Enterprise Ireland’s global office network, assistance with overseas contracts and tailored scaling supports and strategic consultancy assignments. The organisation’s End of Year Statement shows that this approach delivers tangible results, with Enterprise Ireland-backed companies employing over 232,000 people in 2025 and securing more than 1,000 new overseas contracts, underlining the impact of this export-led growth model.

Enterprise Ireland also supports medium-sized enterprises to future-proof their businesses by embracing innovation, skills development and sustainability. Through grants and programmes focused on R&D, leadership development, AI adoption and decarbonisation, companies are encouraged to invest for long-term growth while aligning with national productivity and climate targets. The strategy places strong emphasis on helping existing SMEs transition into larger, world-leading Irish companies, with a goal of significantly increasing the number of Irish exporters employing over 250 people by 2029, ensuring medium-sized firms remain a vital driver of balanced regional and national economic growth.