TD calls for greater Enterprise Ireland support and funding for Mayo

Mayo Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh has called on the government to ensure that Mayo gets greater support from Enterprise Ireland after data released to Sinn Féin shows Mayo has accessed less than 1.5 per cent of funding since 2018.

She elaborated: “Enterprise Ireland does great work as a strong advocate for policies that will benefit Irish exporters and acts as a major investor in Irish start-ups.

“However, data revealed to Sinn Féin shows that with the exception of additional funding to help businesses navigate the Covid crisis in 2020 and 2021, there has been very little increase in funding for the agency over the past five years.

“If Enterprise Ireland is to help grow microbusinesses, SMEs, and family businesses, then they have to be properly resourced and funded to do so.

“One of the predictable results of the failure to increase funding for Enterprise Ireland is that Mayo ends up having fewer companies supported by the agency.

"Enterprise Ireland assist 5,912 companies that employ 220,613 people nationally. 65% of this employment is located outside of Dublin.

“What is particularly concerning is that Mayo has received less than 1.5 percent of funding since 2018.

"In Mayo only 124 businesses are supported by Enterprise Ireland. That’s a paltry 2% of the businesses supported nationally.

"This in turn is reflected in funding. For example, in 2019, the last normal pre-Covid 19 year, Mayo received €1,701,547. Again, out of a national investment of €104,545,457 – this is a grand total of 1.6%.

"There has been an improvement in 2021 as Mayo has received over €3 million so far this year. We must build on this and make sure the necessary supports are in place.

“I would encourage the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar, to look at Enterprise Ireland funding for Mayo, for smaller counties, and for the BMW region, and discuss with the Government how these areas can get their fair share of support.”