1006. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the measures his Department is taking to create jobs in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56180/26]

Supporting enterprise development and job creation in County Clare remains a priority for my Department and its agencies. Through Enterprise Ireland, the Local Enterprise Offices, IDA Ireland and regional enterprise initiatives, significant supports are being provided to indigenous businesses, start-ups, innovators and foreign direct investment companies across the county.

Enterprise Ireland is supporting job creation and enterprise development in County Clare through a combination of direct company supports, start-up development, innovation funding and regional enterprise initiatives.

Under Enterprise Ireland's Strategy 2025-2029, the agency aims to increase employment in supported companies nationally to 275,000 by 2029, with a strong focus on regional development, scaling indigenous businesses, increasing exports and fostering new start-ups. In County Clare, Enterprise Ireland currently supports 94 client companies employing 5,642 people and provided over €5.2 million in supports to Clare-based firms in 2025.

Enterprise Ireland is investing significantly in innovation and entrepreneurship in the county. The agency supports the Mid-West New Frontiers Programme, which assists high-potential start-up businesses through mentoring, funding and business development supports. Enterprise Ireland has also supported major innovation projects in Clare, including Future Mobility Campus Ireland in Shannon, which is advancing autonomous and connected mobility technologies.

In addition, several Clare-based companies have secured support through the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund for projects in areas including drone logistics, cancer treatment research and road-safety technologies. These investments are helping to create high-value employment opportunities and strengthen Clare's position in emerging and technology-intensive sectors.

Enterprise Ireland is also working through the Mid-West Regional Enterprise Plan, the Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme and regional clustering initiatives to strengthen the innovation ecosystem across Clare and the wider Mid-West. This includes support for aerospace and precision engineering clusters centred on Shannon, investment in enterprise infrastructure and initiatives to improve competitiveness, productivity and export performance among local firms. Through these measures, Enterprise Ireland is supporting sustainable job creation and long-term economic growth in County Clare.

The Local Enterprise Office (LEO) in Clare also plays a key role in supporting micro-enterprises and small businesses. In 2025, LEO Clare supported 206 client companies employing 1,348 people. These companies recorded 184 gross job gains and 133 gross job losses, resulting in a net increase of 51 jobs. During the year, €666,952 was approved under Measure 1 and Enterprise Ireland-supported schemes across 42 projects. LEO Clare also supported 1,405 training participants and 411 mentoring participants, while 19 Microfinance Ireland applications were submitted.

Foreign Direct Investment remains a key element of Ireland's economic strategy, with IDA Ireland client companies continuing to generate highly skilled employment nationwide. Employment in IDA client companies increased by 1.5% to 312,400 in 2025, representing approximately 11% of total national employment. My Department estimates that for every ten jobs created directly by foreign direct investment, a further eight jobs are supported in the wider economy.

County Clare forms part of IDA Ireland's Mid-West Region, which also includes Counties Limerick and Tipperary. Across the region, 158 IDA client companies employ 28,125 people directly, with a further 22,500 employed indirectly. Of these, 67 IDA client companies are located in County Clare, employing 6,136 people directly and supporting an estimated 4,909 indirect jobs.

Employment among IDA client companies in the Mid-West has increased by 18% over the past five years, reflecting the region's continued success in attracting investment across the technology, life sciences, international financial services, and engineering and industrial technology sectors. IDA Ireland continues to work closely with national, regional and local stakeholders to strengthen the conditions necessary for enterprise growth, innovation and job creation throughout the region.

Balanced regional development remains a Government priority. My Department and its agencies support this objective through a range of initiatives, including the Regional Enterprise Plans (REPs). The Mid-West Regional Enterprise Plan encompasses Counties Clare, Limerick and Tipperary and has been led by a Steering Committee comprising representatives from enterprise agencies, Local Enterprise Offices, local authorities, higher and further education institutions, regional skills bodies, Fáilte Ireland, the private sector and other stakeholders.

The Mid-West REP contains 31 actions under five strategic objectives:

• Enabling innovation to make the Mid-West a leading digital region;

• Making the Mid-West Ireland's leading sustainability and low-carbon region;

• Supporting enterprise growth in regional towns and rural areas;

• Supporting SMEs, start-ups and microbusinesses; and

• Developing social enterprises and job creation initiatives in areas of high unemployment.

My Department commissioned an independent review of the REP initiative in 2025. The findings of this review, together with the final progress reports for the current REPs, will inform the future approach to regional enterprise development and help ensure continued support for job creation, competitiveness and sustainable economic growth in County Clare and across the Mid-West region.