5 days ago
WDC launch 5-year strategy to support creation of 5,000 jobs
The Western Development Commission has launched a five-year strategy that sets out to support the creation of 5,000 jobs through enterprise and regional development projects.
The strategy sets out a roadmap that will see the WDC invest €50 million in the western region including €35m drawn from its own investment fund and €15m sourced from EU funding.
A €35m investment from the WDC's fund will see €25m earmarked for SMEs, €7m for social enterprises and €3m for creative industries.
The WDC aims to secure a further €15m investment through EU-funded projects, including participation in Interreg, the Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme and Horizon Europe.
It is envisaged that the combined impact of the WDCs various programmes and initiatives will contribute to supporting 5,000 new jobs by 2030.
Established in 1999, the WDC operates as a State agency under the remit of the Department of Rural and Community Development to promote and support social and economic development in counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, Galway, and Clare.
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary launched 'Unlocking Potential, Driving Change: A Strategy for Regional Growth and Collaboration 2025–2029' in his hometown of Ballina, Co Mayo this afternoon.
Mr Calleary said the five-year WDC strategy aligns with the Government's rural development policy and reinforces their commitment to balanced regional growth and innovation.
Some of the WDC's key targets include increasing the number of connected hubs from approximately 380 to 400 hubs while developing the connected hubs network as a platform to deliver AI upskilling and other digital skills.
The Western Investment Fund portfolio currently consists of 120 companies and projects valued at €90m. The WDC plans to deliver more than 100 projects across SMEs, social enterprises, and the creative sector through its Investment Fund and support a further 1,000 SMEs through EU-funded programmes.
CEO of the WDC Allan Mulrooney said the strategy focuses on investing in high-potential companies, supporting communities, and testing scalable solutions in rural Ireland.
"We've co-created a strategy that is both ambitious and grounded in what already works. In the years ahead, talent, not geography, will shape the West's future. But talent needs the right conditions to thrive," Mr Mulrooney said.
"From AI to climate action, social enterprise to creative industries - we're building the platforms to turn regional potential into long-term impact," Mr Mulrooey added.
The organisation also plans to reach an annual audience of more than one million people to promote the region as a place to live, work and to carry out business.
