1. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is responsible for allocating CAP payments to the cattle and cereal farmers in Counties Meath, Kildare and Wicklow. Most funding is for research, development and modernisation of farms. Funding for horticulture is important for the north Dublin agricultural community. Farmers in the region have benefited from EU membership, sharing €12 billion allocated nationally in CAP funding for loans, training and advice up to 2013. This department also funds the extensive forest plantations especially in Wicklow through the Less Favoured Area payment scheme. The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) funding is channelled through Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) and is focused on the port of Howth.
A smart economy uses the creativity of people to drive research and innovation in order to make products and services. A smart economy has secure energy supplies and protects its environment and society.
Fig. 4 Cattle farmers in Counties Meath, Kildare and Wicklow receive funding for modernising their farms.
2. The Industrial Development Authority (IDA) attracts direct foreign investment from multinational companies to the GDA region. It promotes the government’s policy to build a smart economy and to make Ireland a ‘global innovation hub’. The IDA has a network of business parks in the GDA region: nine in Dublin and others in Navan, Bray, Arklow, Newbridge and Naas.