Meath Enterprise Week Business Conference and Expo 

Action Plan for Jobs, Business, Funding, Innovation, Jobs, Meath, Research, Research and Innovation, Science, Skills, Speeches, Startups, Trim

Speech by Damien English T.D., Minister for Housing and Urban Development

for Meath Enterprise Week Business Conference and Expo 

Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim

Thursday, 16th November 2017

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Ladies and Gentlemen, entrepreneurs of County Meath, it is a great pleasure to be in Trim for the 4th Annual Meath Enterprise Week Business Conference and Expo.

I would like to pay tribute to Gary O’Meara and his team at Meath Enterprise for continuing with this showcase event that brings together the very best of Meath Entrepreneurship under one roof.

This year’s conference theme of ‘Collaboration, Innovation and Entrepreneurship’ encapsulates the essence of what it takes to bring an idea for a product or service from inception right through to the market.

But it is the ‘Innovation’ aspect of the expo that excites me the most. Innovation is nothing new to Meath.

Innovation is not just driven by bright ideas, innovation is driven by entrepreneurs, who take great ideas and bring them to life as new products, new services and new businesses.

Five thousand years ago Meath was at the cutting edge of innovation in Europe. The best Scientists and Engineers in Europe, in the world, were working to build the megalithic structure at Newgrange.

That building was precisely aligned to flood the inner burial chamber with light at dawn on the shortest day of the year and demonstrates just how innovative and skilled our remote ancestors were.

The factors which led to the creation of Western Europe’s first innovation hub in Meath, location and connectivity, a highly skilled workforce and a great quality of life, are still present in the county.

In point of fact they are stronger than ever.

My vision for Meath, a vision shared by Meath Co Council, Meath Enterprise and business in Meath is that Meath will not just be a great county to live in, but a great county to work in & to invest in.

And the Boyne Valley Food Innovation District is absolutely critical to making that vision a reality.

I think the secret to success for the Food Innovation District is collaboration. And the same is true for your success in business.

Collaboration within industry, between businesses and with academia and researchers can help unlock the full potential of what you are offering and deliver real impact for Meath and for job creation in the county.

It is through your success over the past few years in business that has seen more jobs created in Meath.

The national unemployment rate is now at 6%, and it continues to drop.

4 out of 5 jobs created in the last 12 months have been outside Dublin.

There are now approximately 85,000 Meath people in work

927 Meath jobs supported by the Local Enterprise Office (2016)

8,732 Meath Jobs in Meath Business supported by Enterprise Ireland, IDA and Uduras na Gaeltachta (2016)

Thousands upon thousands of jobs created by small business in Meath.

I want to thank you for your work, for developing your business and for your dedication to job creation in Meath.

I want to thank Meath Enterprise, Meath LEO, the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and all the State Agencies for working with you when needed.

I would like to leave you with a quote from Ewing Marion Kauffman

“All of the money in the world cannot solve problems unless we work together. And if we work together, there is no problem in the world that can stop us”

I have no doubt that if work together we will drive your business, our county and the Boyne Valley Region well on its way to being at the cutting edge centre of innovation & job creation in the 21st Century.

Together we will make Meath a great place to live, work, and build a brighter future for our children.

ENDS

 

Meath continues to be at the forefront of Innovation and Entrepreneurship after 5,000 years – English

Action Plan for Jobs, Apprenticeships, Brexit, Business, I.T., Innovation, Jobs, Meath, Navan, North Meath, Research and Innovation, Wesmeath

Friday, 22nd September 2017

“Meath continues to be at the forefront of Innovation and
Entrepreneurship after 5,000 years.” That’s the view of local Minister
for Housing and Urban Renewal, and Fine Gael T.D. for Meath West
Damien English, speaking after comparing and analysing the jobs data
between the most recent 2016 Census, and the 2011 Census which took
place during Ireland’s recessionary period.

“In 2016 83,254 people in Meath had a job, this is 8,917 more people
than in 2011. Meath based companies who were supported by our State
agencies such as the IDA or Enterprise Ireland employed 8,732 people
in Meath in 2016. This figure is up 2,134 people on the 2011 figure,
or 32%. These jobs are particularly important as they represent jobs
within the County meaning less commuting. They represent native
entrepreneurial spirit and local relevant skills and are mostly export
orientated” stated Minister English.

“Companies supported by our Local Employment Office as part of Meath
County Council employed 927 people in 2016.  This figure was up 86 on
the 2015 figures, a rise of 10%.  On the unemployment front 10,533
Meath people were unemployed in 2016, down 5,769 on the 2011 figure,
or 35%.  Clearly the National and Regional Action Plan for Jobs are
working, in tandem with Meath County Council’s Economic Development
Plan and the work of Meath LEO and Meath Enterprise, but we need to
constantly renew and refine our efforts until every one wants a job
has one, and that job is as local as possible. In this regard I will
continue to back plans for the Boyne Valley Food and Innovation Hub
and the Meath Digital Hub for our County” stated Minister English.

“This  month the unemployment rate fell nationally again to 6.1%, its
lowest rate in 9 years.  These new jobs both locally and nationally
represent dignity and opportunity for people old and young.  New jobs
allows people to fulfil their dreams and their potential, we want to
continue creating that opportunity for everyone who wants it”
concluded Minister English.

ENDS

Increase in minimum wage will benefit lower paid workers – English

Business, Funding, Jobs, Meath, Navan, North Meath, Oldcastle, Wesmeath

18th July 2017

Increase in minimum wage will benefit lower paid workers – English

The Low Pay Commission is recommending an increase to the minimum wage
of 30 cents, bringing it to €9.55 per hour.

Fine Gael Minister of State for Meath West, Damien English TD,
believes this and other supports will greatly benefit lower paid
workers here in Meath West.

“Increasing the minimum wage is just one tool in a wider Government
programme to help the lower paid and incentivise people into work.

“Affordable Childcare is on the way this September, which will see up
to €1,040 per year for children in full time childcare.

“The latest data from the Central Statistics Office shows that show
that that Ireland is becoming more equal and that poverty is
decreasing.

“Fine Gael in Government recognises that higher levels of public
investment in social and economic infrastructure in Meath West, will
improve skills, childcare, and empower our communities.

“These are the building blocks for more inclusive, fairer and
sustainable patterns of economic growth in our society.

“The latest CSO Household Budget Survey shows that our economic
recovery is being used to reduce inequality across the country

“The ‘Household Budget Survey’ found that the gap between the highest
and lowest income households narrowed between 2009-2010 and 2015-2016.

“Economic and social progress go hand in hand. Only a strong economy
supporting people at work can pay for the services needed to create a
fair society.” Minister English said.

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, said: “The Government welcomes the
recommendation from the Low Pay Commission to increase the national
minimum wage by 30c to €9.55 per hour. It would work out as a €12
increase in a full 40 hour week.

“This would be a modest increase but it’s ahead of the rate of
inflation and average increases in earnings. It would be the fourth
increase in the minimum wage since 2011, and the second under this
Government, and a further step towards the Programme for Government
commitment for a minimum wage of €10.50.

ENDS

Unemployment falling to 6.4% is welcome news, but further to go

Business, Jobs, Meath, Navan, North Meath, Trim, Wesmeath

Tuesday, 4th April 2017

The CSO has today published monthly unemployment statistics for March
2017 which have been welcomed by Damien English, Minister for Housing
and Urban Renewal and Fine Gael T.D. for Meath West.

“The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to fall. In March the
unemployment rate was 6.4% down from 6.6% in February 2017 and down from 8.3%
in March 2016. This means that there were 141,400 persons (83,500 men,
and 57,900 women) classified as being unemployed in March 2017”
Minister English said.

“We have made fantastic progress under the Action Plan for Jobs
nationally, and under our Regional Action Plans locally.  We cannot
pause and we cannot rest until we restore all of the jobs lost in the
recession and create new jobs and new opportunities for our fast
growing population. Jobs and the taxes that come from them are how we
build our society and our vital public services” concluded Minister
English.

ENDS

English advocates mutual recognition of Irish and UK citizenships post Brexit

Brexit, Business, College, Education, EU, European issues, Funding, Jobs, Meath, Navan, North Meath, Research, Research and Innovation, Skills, Trim, UK, Wesmeath

Monday, 27th March 2017

English advocates mutual recognition of Irish and UK citizenships post Brexit

Damien English, Meath West Fine Gael TD and Minister for Housing and
Urban Renewal, has advocated the mutual recognition by Ireland and the
United Kingdom of each other’s citizenships on a Bi-Lateral basis.

Minister English believes this as a solution to some of the challenges
that will face both countries post Brexit.

Minister English made his remarks in the week that British Prime
Minister Theresa May triggers Article 50 at a Fine Gael public meeting
on Brexit in the Newgrange Hotel in Navan on Monday night.  The
meeting was arranged for members of the public from the constituencies
of Meath West and Meath East.

“Irish and UK citizenships are already quite comparable.  For
instance, we afford each other similar voting rights, there are also
certain historic pre-EU rights in terms of passports and residency.
Many Irish people worked in the UK before returning home, and many
people in border counties still work in the North every day. All of
these people are worried about their current and future pension
entitlements”.

“Many Irish students study in the North or on the mainland UK, and
would face crippling international student fees post Brexit. In light
of our enormous shared history with the UK, our volume of trade,
coupled with our common interest in the North and in so many areas
like co-operation in health services, I believe there is a compelling
case for a Bi-Lateral deal between the two counties on citizenship”.

“Such a deal would be in relation to areas that have not been devolved
to EU level, and as such would be outside the remit of the direct
EU/UK talks” Minister English told the Fine Gael public meeting on
Brexit.

“Additionally, Fine Gael in Government will be working with every
sector of the economy and the public service in planning to ensure
Ireland retains its competitive edge in research and innovation as
well as FDI in a post Brexit EU” Minister English concluded.

New jobs and disposable household income on the rise in Meath and Westmeath – English

Action Plan for Housing, Action Plan for Jobs, Budget 2017, Business, Funding, Housing and Urban Renewal, Jobs, Meath, Navan, North Meath, Research and Innovation, Skills, Trim

Thursday, 23rd March 2017

CSO report shows increases in jobs and disposable household income in
all regions of the country

“Recent CSO data shows that disposable income in Meath and Westmeath
households is on the increase.” That’s according to the Minister for
Housing and Urban Renewal and Meath West T.D. Damien English. Minister
English credits a growing economy, with more people back at work, for
this positive development.

“The most recent CSO data shows that in 2014, all regions across the
country showed increases in disposable household income. Here in Meath
there was a 4.5% increase in disposable household income in 2014
compared to 2013, while in Westmeath the figure was 3.1% which was the
highest for any midland county. This positive development is thanks to
our growing economy, which has seen more people back at work.
Unemployment has fallen to 6.6% down from a high of 15.2% back in
2011. There are now over two million people at work.  But we cannot
rest until we reach full employment again locally and nationally”
Minister English said.

“The increase in disposable income obviously has a positive knock on
effect here in Meath in Westmeath as people have a little more money
in their pockets, which is good news for local businesses and services
and spreads the benefits of recovery to all in society.

“We are seeing the evidence of this in the latest Enterprise Ireland
figures, which show that 200 new full and part-time jobs were
delivered in 2016 by the 207 small businesses in Meath that have been
supported by the Local Enterprise Offices. These businesses support a
total of  927 jobs here in Meath. No doubt they will benefit from this
increase in household disposable income locally, and we will see
further jobs created by small businesses. In Westmeath there were 283
new jobs in 265 Local Enterprise Office supported companies,
delivering a new total of 1,375 jobs at the end of 2016 in this
sector.

“Fine Gael is working hard to build a fair and compassionate society
with thriving communities across every region of Ireland. In order to
do so we must protect and sustain the economic progress we have made,
so that we can use it benefit the people who need it most. That
economic progress has been hard won over the last 6 years. We cannot
afford to throw it all away on other parties who would risk our
recovery.

”Fine Gael is working day and night to ensure that every single family
in Meath and Westmeath sees the benefits of an economy that is growing
strongly once again.”

Speech to RGDATA on Town Centres

Action Plan for Housing, Business, Castlepollard, Enfield, Funding, Heritage, Housing and Urban Renewal, Innovation, Jobs, Johnstown, Longwood, Meath, Navan, North Meath, Oldcastle, Rebuilding Ireland, Summerhill, Trim, Wesmeath

Opening Address by

Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal

Damien English T.D

Town Centre Health Check (TCHC) Workshop

16 March 2017

Dublin Castle

Revitalising Ireland’s Towns: Pilot Training Workshop No. 2 (2 of 2)

 

Ladies and gentleman, as Minister with responsibility for Housing and Urban Renewal, I am delighted to be here with you this morning.

 

I would like to thank RGDATA and the Heritage Council for the invitation to be here for what promises to be a very interesting and informative workshop.

 

I would also like to commend both organisations, and their partners, for their continued work towards the development and creation of a robust Town Centre Health Check mechanism for Irish towns.

 

I understand that significant progress has been made to date under the programme and I wish to acknowledge the concerted efforts of all those involved in the participating pilot towns across the country.

 

In particular, I welcome the co-operative and inclusive approach being taken by you and all the stakeholders in developing this training programme.

 

 

Town Centre Health Checks

Our town centres are much more than simply bricks and mortar. They are the core, the essence, and the lifeblood of our urban areas throughout the country.

 

It is therefore imperative that they are preserved, maintained and revitalised so that they can be sustainable for generations to come.

 

Following our recent economic downturn and the negative impacts associated with it, we now face the increasing challenge of ensuring that our town centres can be viable places which will attract people to live in, work in and visit.

 

One of the most negative and visible impacts of the recent economic downturn has unquestionably been the large levels of vacancy in the retail, commercial and residential sectors in some of our town centres.

 

The trend of developing new retail centres on the edge of towns has also led to a loss of trade, footfall and vitality within the inner core areas of towns.

The vibrancy of many main streets and urban centres has been threatened by such past actions.

 

It is my firm belief though, that we now have a great opportunity to develop and plan for our Town Centres so that they not only survive, but they thrive.

 

I believe also that the Town Centre Health Check training programme will contribute strongly to seizing the opportunity for our urban centres across the country.

 

It focusses on utilising best practice, including international best practice, in developing shared and integrated approaches to town centre renewal, across all sectors – retail, commercial and residential – which will also support Government policies and strategies for our towns.

 

The reality is that if our urban areas are to survive and thrive, they need more residents supplemented by nearby retail units and services – the two are interdependent.

 

This is largely what the Town Centre Health check concept is aimed at addressing – revitalising our towns and enhancing their economic sustainability – and both Minister Coveney and I are fully supportive of this approach.

 

Government priority on Urban Regeneration

The Programme for a Partnership Government, published in May 2016, sets out the ambitious priority attached to the area of urban regeneration by the current Government. It includes a series of specific actions aimed at facilitating the regeneration of our urban centres.

 

The Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness – Rebuilding Ireland, published in July 2016, further reinforces the Government’s commitment to the area of urban regeneration.

 

This proposes a further range of measures in this area, as does the recent Action Plan for Rural Development – published in January 2017 by Minister Humphries – which has a more specific focus and objective of preserving and enhancing rural towns and villages, as well as their surrounding communities.

In the context of Rebuilding Ireland, I am presently chairing an Urban Renewal Working Group comprising senior representatives from my Department, local authorities and other relevant bodies with a view to bringing forward proposals for new urban regeneration measures.

 

Measures that will support those already in place, including my Department’s Social Housing Regeneration Programme and the recently announced “Repair and Lease” and the “Buy and Renew” schemes.

 

Having regard to my Ministerial responsibilities, vacancy and dereliction in urban areas is an issue that I have a particular interest in.

 

Consequently a key focus of the Working Group has been on measures to address vacancy in urban areas, of both residential and commercial premises, with a view to bringing currently vacant units back into productive use.

 

We are now nearing the conclusion of the Working Group’s deliberations.

It is my intention to announce the new urban regeneration measures arising from that process in the near months ahead. Measures that will be designed to help our Town Centres to survive and thrive.

 

Sustainable urban development

The challenges facing Ireland today are undoubtedly complex ones. This is particularly the case in cities and urban areas having regard to:

  • the ongoing increase in population,
  • increasing migration,
  • changing demographic trends, and
  • the ongoing increasing urbanisation of society as more and more people gravitate towards living in larger urban areas.

 

Cities and towns are the main drivers of economic activity, competing to attract skills, investment and employment.

 

It is consequently important that a comprehensive, holistic and integrated approach is adapted to sustainable urban development.

 

Enhancing the desirability and “liveability” of our urban centres through good place-making, and promoting well-managed, liveable, safe, socially inclusive, resource-efficient and environmentally sustainable urban areas is key to this.

 

In this regard, key urban place-making incorporates a range of complex and inter-related issues:

  • the design of public spaces;

 

  • the provision of supporting infrastructure and public realm;

 

  • the need for more compact and efficient urban design;

 

  • increased housing density maximizing the use of available land to help combat urban sprawl;

 

  • the provision of necessary facilities, including retail, as well as other supporting amenities and open spaces;

 

  • the prioritisation of sustainable transport modes;

 

  • increasing energy efficiency;

 

  • as well as tackling deprivation and related social issues in communities.

 

The overlapping nature of these quite complex, distinct and diverse range of issues is such that there is a need to consider an overall strategy.

A national, comprehensive and forward-looking urban policy – that will allow the opportunities in urban areas to be fully realised.

 

One that will enshrine that the right development will take place in the right location, at the right time.

 

National Planning Framework – Ireland 2040

All of this requires a comprehensive and integrated overarching framework approach to planning, to design and to the provision of supporting infrastructure and services.

 

This applies whether we are improving the existing urban environment already in place, accommodating new development, or both.

 

In this connection, my Department is currently in the process of developing a new spatial plan for Ireland, a National Planning Framework entitled Ireland 2040.

 

Public consultation has already commenced and which it is intended will be finalised and published later this year.

The new plan will set out an overarching, long-term framework to guide future development in terms of the Government objectives – including in relation to urban development – to be taken account of in the subsequent development of regional strategies, local authority development plans and LAP’s.

 

In setting out a national vision for the future development and growth of Ireland to 2040, a key policy consideration will be how we best manage our urban centres, development in and around those urban centres, as well as how we control the urban sprawl associated with urban growth centres.

 

In the last twenty years, 45% of Ireland’s population growth (more than 500,000 people), occurred in just six local authority areas, each of which adjoin, but none of which include, Dublin, Cork and Galway.

 

Against this background, it is therefore important in the context of our new national spatial plan that the focus of investment and development will be spread more widely than in the past to act as a counter-balance to Dublin, thereby facilitating more balanced regional development of the country as a whole.

Concluding remarks

By way of conclusion, cities and towns are where most of our population now congregate and it is therefore imperative that in this context, every effort is made to make our urban centres more sustainable.

 

To make our urban centres better places in which to live, work and do business in for all of our citizens. Together we can put the plans in place to facilitate this and the Town Centre Health Check is important in this regard.

 

I renew my congratulations, support and thanks to Alison Harvey from the Heritage Council, to Tara Buckley and RGDATA.

 

I thank you all for engaging in your local Town Centre.

 

Together we can ensure that or town centres survive.

 

Together we will help our town centres thrive.

Thank you.

Minister English visits Briody Group and highlights their innovation and enterprise

Action Plan for Jobs, Business, Innovation, Jobs, Meath, Oldcastle

Friday, 10th March 2017

Oldcastle group employs 90 full time people across it’s 3 businesses
Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal and Meath West Fine Gael T.D. Damien English paid a recent visit to the Briody Group of companies in Oldcastle. He was joined on his visit by 5th and 6th students of the local St. Fiach’s National School.
Speaking about his visit, Minister English said: “Any company based in rural Ireland, like the Briody Group, that can withstand the hardship of the 80’s and the more recent crash is a success story in itself. But they have not rested on their previous successes, they continue to innovative to ensure they are shaping new thinking and new developments in their sector, rather than reacting to them. Their work with St. Fiach’s National School locally will help to foster a whole new generation of innovators and entrepeneurs, as well as showing young people that you can make a life and step up a business in rural Ireland”
The Briody Group consist of Briody Bedding Ltd, Bona Vista Ltd and Deerpark Ltd. They have been in business for 40 years manufacturing bedroom furniture, mattresses, divan bases and upholstered headboards. Across the 3 businesses they employ 90 people on a full time basis. The company was founded by the late Benny and his wife Brid in 1976 and their legacy is continued by their four children Bridget, Martin, Brendan and David. In 2015 they were awarded Bedding Supplier of the Year by Harvey Norman, Briody Bedding Ltd were named Best Small-Medium Enterprise at the Meath Business and Tourism Awards 2016 and Briody Bedding Ltd have again been recognised by being included as a finalist in the upcoming Small Firms Association awards in March.
On their tour the 5th and 6th class students took in the whole process from production to dispatch, as well as the administration side of things. The pupils were then invited to submit product designs, Dragon’s Den style, to the product development team.

Minister English urges businesses in Meath West to avail of SBCI funding opportunities

Business, Funding, Innovation, Jobs, Meath, Navan, North Meath, Research and Innovation, Wesmeath
Friday, 10th March 2017
 Meath West Fine Gael T.D. and Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal Damien English T.D. has urged small and medium sized enterprises in Meath West to explore and consider the funding opportunities of the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI).
Minister English explained: “The SBCI has 8 partners amongst the lending institutions, and has lent out over half a Billion Euros (€544m) since its inception.  The average loan size was €43,200 with discounts of 1.15% on average.  These loans have supported 67,000 jobs in small and medium sized enterprises across Ireland, including in Meath.  There is a particularly strong demand for loans in the Agri sector.”
Further information can be obtained at: http://sbci.gov.ie

Meath West benefits from Fine Gael’s scheme to help move people from welfare to work – English

Action Plan for Jobs, Budget 2017, Business, Education, Jobs, Meath, Navan, Skills, Startups, Wesmeath

Participants in the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) are twice as likely to be in full employment after six months than those who did not take part, a review has found.

The study compared people who had stayed on the BTWEA scheme for its full two year duration with non-participants.

Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal, Damien English T.D. said the review, published by Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar, was very encouraging for Meath West.

“In Meath, some 475 people are currently participating in the programme, while in Westmeath the figure is 235 people.

“Entrepreneurs are vital for local economies, our economic future and for job creation.

“I would encourage anyone who is currently unemployed in Meath and Westmeath to use this valuable State support which helps starting a new business.

“This review has shown the allowance is highly effective in getting people in Meath and Westmeath from welfare to work” the Meath West Fine Gael T.D. and Minister said.

The BTWEA helps people who are unemployed or claiming welfare to set up their own business and continue receiving State income supports for two years, while getting advice and support for running a new enterprise.

Minister English continued: “The Department of Social Protection has also made it much easier for many more people to avail of the allowance.

“The qualification period has been reduced from 12 months to just nine months for more people on welfare, not just for Jobseekers, but also reduced those on other schemes like One-Parent Family Payment, Jobseekers Transitional Payment, Disability Allowance, and Farm Assist, and other welfare payments.”

ENDS

Geographic breakdown of BTWEA participants by county:

County Number Participants Percentage of Live Register for County
CARLOW 194 8.7%
CAVAN 275 11.1%
CLARE 412 12.4%
CORK 770 6.2%
DONEGAL 413 6.0%
DUBLIN 2833 8.0%
GALWAY 612 8.9%
KERRY 390 9.3%
KILDARE 425 7.3%
KILKENNY 297 11.8%
LAOIS 220 6.9%
LEITRIM 130 12.4%
LONGFORD 160 8.2%
LOUTH 509 9.1%
MAYO 384 9.3%
MEATH 475 14.0%
MONAGHAN 162 8.8%
OFFALY 198 5.7%
ROSCOMMON 158 11.3%
SLIGO 194 10.6%
TIPPERARY 406 7.3%
WATERFORD 375 8.2%
WESTMEATH 235 5.9%
WEXFORD 369 5.5%
WICKLOW 546 12.9%
Total Participants and national Percentage  

11548

 

8.2%