Just one Kerry project included in State’ s €5 million regional job fund

KERRY has not fared particularly well in the latest round of state funding for regional job creation.

Earlier this month Enterprise Ireland announced details of the first round of funding–worth €5 million – for local and regional initiatives to support new businesses and jobs.

According to Enterprise Ireland the funding package is the start of a “new approach” by government aimed at supporting job creation initiatives in every region of Ireland.

That is all very laudable but when it comes to the first tranche of funding Kerry has not received much of note.

The midlands and South East appear to be the focus of this funding round with the majority of funding going to Local Enterprise Office (LEO) projects and various Community Enterprise Initiatives based in these regions. Dublin and the West of Ireland are also significant beneficiaries.

The only programme in which Kerry is specifically mentioned is a collaboration between the three Cork LEOs and the Kerry LEO which will see a new graduate programme developed.

This scheme –it is proposed – will see high performing graduates placed with micro enterprises for a year as part of their Masters Programmes in the hope that they can help boost the growth of the host business.

As a concept it is a good one and if successful it will doubtless provide a welcome skills boost for new firms.

However in terms of a €5 million Government funding package supposedly aimed at revitalising all regions it is a little underwhelming. We shall have to see what funding round two brings.