Regional Enterprise Plans (REPs)
About this good practice
Problem addressed: Following the global economic crisis, regions in Ireland were not recovering to the same extent as the greater Dublin area. Additionally, new challenges emerged that would test enterprise resilience e.g. Brexit, international trade headwinds, and taxation changes.
The REPs are an integral part of the broader policy system aimed at driving economic growth and sustaining better standards of living throughout Ireland. As a ‘bottom-up’ initiative, the Plans complement ‘top-down’ national level policies and programmes. Ireland’s national Enterprise 2025 policy aims to embed resilience in our enterprises, & contribute to strong economic performance.
How objectives are reached: The nine Irish REPs provide perspectives and ideas from the ‘ground-up’ and are based on agreed Strategic Objectives in each region. They are informed by an understanding of unique local strengths and assets and seek to translate national policy into regional impact.
Each REP is guided by a Regional Steering Committee (chaired by industry). Reporting to the Steering Committee are a number of collaborative Working Groups, tasked with implementation. To drive implementation, coordination & collaboration a full time Programme Manger is jointly funded by Local Authorities regionally.
Stakeholders: Local Authorities, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Local Enterprise Offices, Higher Education Institutes, private enterprise, Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI)
Resources needed
Cost of developing and rolling out the REPs were approximately:
• Set up and run the initiative 1 year, 5 x DBEI Staff % Cost: €300,000
• Programme Manager Staff + Travel & Event Costs: €90,000 per Annum
• Total cost: €390,000 for one region - €90,000 per additional region roll out
Evidence of success
Concrete outcomes include:
• Process of consultation to formulate the REPs recognised as innovative within the Irish Public Sector
• Employment has risen in all regions in Ireland, since 2015
• REPs have provided regional stakeholders with a mechanism that fosters and encourages greater collaboration and initiatives of scale
• Programme Managers full time role supporting collaboration that would not have occurred in their absence
• Increase in ‘bottom-up’ initiatives being supported
Potential for learning or transfer
One of the reasons that the REPs have been successful and could be transferred is that they bring together stakeholders and connect them through the regional programme manager – who works on behalf of all stakeholders. This programme manager than supports regional bids for access to competitive funding streams. These funding streams underpin the REPS for example the national Regional Economic Development Fund (REDF) is a €105 million fund that has had three rounds of funding calls to date to support regional resilience and collaboration.
Furthermore, the REPs have provided regional stakeholders with a mechanism that fosters and encourages greater collaboration and connects them with national policy and its support mechanisms in a more joined up and collaborative mechanism.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation