Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The total value of grants paid by agencies of my Department in the years 2011 to 2013 is €641 million. This comprises €268 million by IDA Ireland, €313 million by Enterprise Ireland, €42 million by the county enterprise boards, and €18 million by InterTradeIreland.

The total gross number of jobs created in those years assisted by the IDA and EI comes to an estimated 90,000 jobs between 2011 and to date in 2013. The cost per job for the IDA and EI is based on the cost per job sustained over a seven year period. They currently stand at €13,475 for the IDA and €12,597 for EI. The cost per job for the CEBs in 2012 was €6,181, while the cost per job for InterTradeIreland in 2012 was €12,251, although in the latter two cases the calculation is on a different basis.

The agencies in my Department are performing very well in a challenging environment. They are driving a vital transition from an economy founded on property to one built on enterprise, exports and innovation. Their impact is measured by the gross job creation in enterprises supported by them, the net job movements across their portfolio as well as numerous agency-specific key performance indicators which are regularly published. I am encouraged by the progress across almost all of these indicators at a time of declining staff in these agencies.

These agencies are an integral part of the development and delivery of Action Plan for Jobs. They are driving an export-led recovery through work in the marketplace and an increased number of trade and investment missions. The boards of the agencies have put in significant effort in steering these agencies through this transition. They bring insights from relevant backgrounds and, in replacing members, I seek people who will supplement the capacity of the respective agency.

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