Need for more enterprise centres highlighted

A local TD has called upon the government to provide adequate financial supports to enable local authorities develop enterprise centres.

Speaking in the Dáil, Cavan Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith said Enterprise Centres have played a "key role" in providing workspace for start up and small businesses.

"Throughout Cavan and Monaghan we have instances of start-up companies having had their first workspace in enterprise centres and due to their success and growth were able to move on and provide their own premises.

"We need a new impetus to the further development of enterprise centres providing innovation and workspaces," he stated.

He received confirmation from An Taoiseach that a proposal on workspace hubs in the central border area is "progressing" and that the Shared Island Unit of his Department will engage with him further on this particular issue.

"Working together at local and on a cross border basis modern workspace accommodation with innovation facilities can be developed and will result in job creation bringing benefits to local communities,” stated Deputy Brendan Smith.

When the Shared Island Initiative was established, Deputy Smith said he put forward a proposal that such centres encompassing workspace, research and innovation facilities should be developed on a cross border basis.

"I continually emphasised the need for such development in the central border region including Cavan and Monaghan and neighbouring counties.

Speaking this week, he emphasised that local authorities, "who do not have the necessary financial resources to undertake these developments", need to have this additional support and programme commenced "as soon as possible."

"It is clear that there are opportunities to create jobs at local level and in many instances would be entrepreneurs are not in a position to provide their own business premises or workspace and can result in good employment opportunities being lost.