22nd July 2025
The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE) has announced €3.68 billion in funding under the National Development Plan (NDP) to support transformative enterprise, innovation and tourism programmes through to 2030. The enhanced capital allocation, which includes €400 million in additional funding, has been designed to support Irish enterprises to start up, grow and scale internationally, to drive the competitiveness and productivity of businesses across every region of the country, to provide for the delivery of supports to attract inward investment, to support access to finance and to position Ireland as a destination of choice for tourism through product development and overseas marketing.
The funding will enable the Department and its Agencies to invest directly in Irish companies and to strengthen our indigenous base, in the face of potential geopolitical shocks. This will include new investment funds to support Irish companies where there is currently a funding gap and where business financing can be challenged. Funding will also enable the development of a national start-up accelerator programme, development of regional incubators and enterprise centres and the positioning of Ireland internationally as a hub for entrepreneurs and start-ups.
Highlighting the ambition set out in this funding, Minister for Enterprise, Employment and Tourism Peter Burke said,
"This €3.68 billion investment is the linchpin in Ireland’s vision to be a global leader in enterprise, innovation and entrepreneurship. It will enable my department to continue its delivery of capital schemes to businesses, focusing on jobs and enterprise development, innovation and tourism programmes, including utilisation of the full extent of income earned by the Department’s Agencies. We find ourselves in uncertain times when it comes to the global marketplace, and we must ensure our investment is well targeted and our family businesses and exporters are supported to focus on productivity, competitiveness and diversification.
Importantly, this funding will also ensure that all Irish businesses, large, small and medium, have the support they need to grow, scale and compete internationally, while also attracting the next generation of foreign direct investment to our shores
Funding will fuel innovation-specific actions to align with opportunities arising at EU level in pursuit of EU innovation and competitiveness, as well as key European funding."
Key priorities include continued inward investment with funding to purchase two land banks for the development of Next Generation Sites. These sites will attract companies seeking sites of significant scale and will position Ireland to compete for investment and strengthen competitive advantage globally.
In respect of the tourism sector, additional funding will increase product development and SME support, targeting new high-growth tourism segments and increased marketing of Ireland as a tourism destination overseas. Funding will also be directed into delivering new Regional Enterprise Plans, helping realise regional enterprise development.
Minister of State for Small Business, Retail and Employment Alan Dillon noted how funding would result in a direct investment in jobs, resilience and regional economic development,
“This funding represents a powerful investment in Ireland’s future, not just in capital, but in people, ideas, and communities. By expanding support for regional incubators, enterprise centres, and a national start-up accelerator, we’re equipping small businesses, retailers, and entrepreneurs across the country with the tools they need to thrive.
It’s about unlocking potential by helping Irish companies scale, compete globally, and create high-quality jobs. It’s also about resilience, strengthening local economies and ensuring every region can share in the opportunities of innovation and growth. This is a real boost for enterprise, employment, and regional development.”
Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation Niamh Smyth went on to say,
"Beyond traditional enterprise, we’re exponentially scaling Ireland’s deep‑tech ecosystem and stepping up to be a serious player in the global innovation economy. This funding will power national participation in strategic sectors such as Important Projects of Common European Interest and accelerate R&D in cutting-edge sectors, including microelectronics and advanced tech. We're building an ecosystem where AI, digital innovation and technological entrepreneurship can flourish."
The NDP funding will enhance the Department’s 2025 base of €3.28 billion and will be fully supplemented by income generated by its agencies. It will empower the Department and its agencies to invest strategically in scaling Irish companies, attracting major international investment, advancing national start-up infrastructure, and delivering cutting-edge research and development aligned with EU priorities. Further programme details will be outlined in the Department’s Competitiveness and Productivity Action Plan, to be published in September.
ENDS
Editors notes
Capital schemes include:
- Next‑Generation Sites: Land acquisition for large-scale NextGen sites to attract significant foreign investment.
- Irish Enterprise and Tourism: Scaling of Irish businesses via a new scaling fund, technology centre expansion, a national start-up accelerator, regional incubators, and tourism competitiveness support.
- Innovation and IP: Boosting Ireland’s participation in EU Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs), especially microelectronics and advanced tech, backed by strong IP policy frameworks.
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