:: National Development Plan 2007-2013 ::
The National Development Plan (2007-2013) was framed after an extensive consultation process and a detailed review of the findings and recommendations of recent national studies and surveys. In deciding the investment priorities and the weight to be attached to the various programmes, the Government’s strategy was informed by an assessment of the country’s strengths and weaknesses. Over the life of this Plan, priorities will include: balanced regional development, tackling infrastructure deficits, environmental sustainability, energy, greater investment in social and affordable housing, investment in education, science, technology and innovation, the promotion of social inclusion, investment in the enterprise sector as well as other areas such as quality of life and value for money.
Enterprise Development Programme
Total indicative investment under the Enterprise Development Programme over the period 2007-2013 is estimated at €3.3 billion or 17% of spend. This is broken down between the following sub-programmes:
- Indigenous Industry sub-programmes: €1.7 billion.
- Foreign Direct Investment sub-programme: €1.6 billion.
Support for entrepreneurship and micro-enterprise
The nurturing of a positive culture of entrepreneurship and promotion of the formation of new, particularly innovative, enterprises with growth potential will remain a key objective over the time frame of the Plan. Based on the development of their existing suite of interventions, the County & City Enterprise Boards will:
- Promote entrepreneurship throughout society through initiatives such as their Start-Your-Own Business training courses, schools enterprise programmes, awards schemes, networks including the Women-in-Business networks, etc.
- Support owner/managers of micro-enterprises through the provision of an information service on Government services/requirements and related information needs.
- Assist business start-ups and expansion with appropriate financial supports.
- Build the management capability of owner/managers of micro businesses through training and development measures, including mentoring programmes.
Enterprise Development
The NDP recognises that "Enterprise Development Agencies have a vital role to play in promoting regional development particularly in attracting high value industries to the Gateway regions which are lagging behind. IDA Ireland’s regional strategy is aligned with the National Spatial Strategy and is designed to support the Gateway approach to regional development. IDA Regional Plans take account of the locational behaviour and requirements of the next generation of FDI projects, infrastructure capacities, the importance of building critical mass and leveraging the advantages of existing sectoral clusters."
This approach will be supported by the regional focus of Enterprise Ireland, Shannon Development and the more localised support of the County Enterprise Boards. Limerick-Shannon is Ireland’s largest urban centre after Dublin and Cork. The Gateway particularly benefits from Shannon Airport, a strong enterprise base, and the proven research capacity of the third-level sector in the Region. This Gateway has considerable potential to generate and drive accelerated rates of economic development and population growth. To achieve this, it must put in place and implement an overall strategy for its development. Key development and investment priorities over the period of the Plan will include implementation of a shared innovation strategy between education providers and the enterprise sector to strengthen the city’s third level and enterprise sector.
(Source National Development Plan 2007-2013 Transforming Ireland).
Measure 1: Selective Financial Intervention
Financial assistance for eligible projects is currently available under three headings: Capital, Employment and Feasibility. These financial instruments are presently under review and may be enhanced over the life of the Plan to provide a more flexible response to the changing needs of business. Priority is to be given to manufacturing and internationally traded services which, in time, can graduate to the Enterprise Ireland portfolio; tourism projects aimed primarily at overseas visitors; locally provided services promoted by the unemployed, those recently made redundant, or women re-entering the workforce. Such projects are to avoid deadweight and displacement and cannot represent more than 25% of the Board's annual Measure 1 capacity. Projects which are harmful or potentially harmful to the environment are not eligible for support and the project promoter has to conform to the highest E.U. environmental standards. The Board is obliged to award not less than 30% of its annual Measure 1 allocation in refundable form and the Board has formulated policies in this regard. To date a 0% interest rate has applied to grantees in receipt of refundable aid and repayment periods generally do not exceed 36 months.
Measure 2: Entrepreneurial & Capability Development
The Board is responsible for the promotion of an enterprise culture and raising enterprise awareness. Internal capability building allied to the acquisition of new business and technology skills is of paramount importance in micro-enterprise development. The Board takes a lead role in the promotion of best practice and quality management. To this end, in addition to mentoring, which already includes general management, financial structuring, product development, marketing, corporate organisation and strategic planning, the Board arranges dedicated training modules in core management skills. These include decision-making, time management, employee motivation, team leadership, problem solving, communication and creativity.
The Board implements an approved ‘Women in Business’ initiative, which includes the development, and establishment of women’s networks, the design of strategies to unblock the particular impediments affecting would-be women entrepreneurs, and the formulation and implementation of appropriate management development programmes. The Board promotes the benefits of e-Commerce, provides assistance for connectivity and offers dedicated mentoring and training. The Board also fosters a greater use of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacture amongst micro-enterprises through the arrangement of dedicated ‘on premises’ and external training. Over the life of the Plan, the latter will be supplemented through the Board’s involvement in the Mid-West Engineering Skill Net.
To measure progress over the period 2000-2006 during a time of positive economic conditions, the Board undertook a detailed review and engaged in a public consultation process in order to identify the political, economic, social and technical influences affecting North Tipperary.
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