Fianna Fáil’s spokesperson for Enterprise and the Circular Economy, Albert Dolan TD, has welcomed today’s announcement by Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD, confirming €18 million in Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme funding, with Galway securing significant investment across multiple high-impact innovation projects.
The Smart Regions Scheme, co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), is designed to boost regional enterprise, strengthen innovation capacity and support sustainable economic growth in communities across the country.
Deputy Dolan highlighted the importance of the funding for the Northern and Western Region, which includes Galway, noting that 17 projects in the region have been approved for a combined €3.48 million in funding.
“This is a very strong day for Galway,” Deputy Dolan said. “The level of investment secured for our county shows real confidence in our capacity to drive innovation, support enterprise growth and lead in sectors like AI, agritech, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing.”
Major Galway Projects Announced
Galway features prominently across several funding streams, with support confirmed for projects including:
“These projects represent the very best of what Galway has to offer, entrepreneurship, research excellence, and community-driven economic development,” Dolan stated. “Investments like these will help future-proof our regional economy and create opportunities across both urban and rural parts of the county.”
Driving Balanced Regional Growth
Deputy Dolan also praised the strategic alignment of the investments with the National Smart Specialisation Strategy for Innovation and the Regional Enterprise Plan for the West, noting that the Smart Regions programme supports long-term, place-based development.
“This funding strengthens the ecosystem that supports start-ups, SMEs and research-intensive organisations in Galway. It will help create new jobs, support business scaling, and ensure that the West continues to compete nationally and internationally.”
ERDF’s Role in Regional Development
Dolan acknowledged the partnership with the Regional Assemblies, noting that the ERDF programmes play a vital role in ensuring balanced regional development:
“European funding continues to deliver tangible benefits for Galway. The collaboration between local partners, Enterprise Ireland, and the Regional Assemblies ensures that investment is targeted, impactful and aligned with our region’s strengths.”
ENDS