A new Regional Enterprise Plan for the Mid-East Region to 2024 was launched yesterday and includes a number of priorities for Kildare in the agri food, equine and low carbon sectors.
“The new Regional Enterprise Plan for the Counties of Kildare, Meath and Wicklow was launched by my colleague Minister Damien English yesterday. It is one of 9 new enterprise plans around the Country which are backed by a fund of €180m to develop and implement collaborative and innovation enterprise projects in the regions and support sustainable jobs.
“The plan sets out five strategic objectives for enterprise development across agri-food, screen content, equine, a low carbon economy and a positive enterprise ecosystem for the region in the period up to 2024. Each strategic objective has time-bound actions to deliver the objectives.
“One of the key actions under the first objective of developing agri-food hubs is the development of the Athy Food, Drink and Skills Innovation Hub. This is another key project for Athy that I have been actively pushing for further funding and I welcome its inclusion as a key priority in this plan.
“Focusing on the strengths of the local area one of the 5 strategic objectives is the development of Equine businesses across the Mid-East. This includes the establishment of the first National Equine Innovation Centre in Ireland and the development of programmes and training for the growth of the equine sector which will be important for our many horseracing and bloodstock businesses in Kildare.
“The strategic objective to accelerate the transition to a low carbon economy includes the development of a green investment and enterprise zone in Allenwood.
“The plan was developed by key stakeholders in the 3 Counties including Kildare County Council, Kildare LEO and KWETB. It aims to build on the key strengths in the areas to develop and grow more enterprise and jobs in the region and is good news for Kildare”, concluded Minister Heydon.