Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I mentioned the nine advance factories that are being built. As far as I am aware, that is it for the moment. That is where the budget we have been given is going. That is what we have planned. The Deputy asked me whether there has been a change in the plan or in the budget since my appointment as Minister. I remind him that I have been here a month. A change cannot be made because of the 2017 capital review. As yet, there is no change in the 2016 spend. The agreement of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is needed to redirect 2016 spending. We will make sure there is an emphasis on the regions. I suppose it is good to come in here and listen to the members of the Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation pushing for this. Deputy Donnelly and his colleagues on the committee are making my job easier by doing so.

The Deputy also asked whether Enterprise Ireland is working with IDA Ireland to develop break-out companies from the foreign direct investment companies and to get more industry through from the foreign direct investment companies. I assure him that such work is ongoing as part of the global sourcing initiative. As I have mentioned, I was on a trade mission that went to Limerick, Athlone and Sligo. Approximately 50 foreign direct investment companies and at least 50 more Enterprise Ireland client companies were brought in and matched together. This was set up in a very organised manner. It was not done willy-nilly.

Efforts were made to ensure IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland had interviewed their clients and, therefore, knew what kind of matches to put together. When we met a particular gentleman who had attended a similar event two years previously, he told us he set up a business subsequent to that event and now has 45 people working for him. That is an example of what is happening under the global sourcing initiative, in which both agencies are involved.

The Deputy also asked about how budgets are used. In fact, both organisations use their budgets. There is no specific budget for these purposes. Both Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland use part of their respective budgets.