Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister and his officials. I compliment IDA Ireland on its success in 2015 and indeed in the past number of years in job creation and also the plans for the regional facilities which are certainly very welcome.

I wish to raise a number of questions on the table in the briefing note on the percentage of investment projects to be outside Dublin and Cork. There were targets for 50% in 2013 and 2014, which were not quite reached, but there was no target set for 2015. Will the Minister explain the basis of that?

IDA Ireland has received requests for a large number of large grant payments from companies that have completed investment projects. Does the Minister consider this as evidence of expansion and job creation? Does he have any concerns in relation to the Estimates for 2016? Will this be replicated in 2016 as well?

I addressed a question to Enterprise Ireland on Údarás na Gaeltachta when it came before the committee. I know that Údarás is not under the Minister's remit, but does IDA Ireland have a supportive relationship with Údarás? I know that Enterprise Ireland said it had a relationship in respect of research. I wonder if IDA Ireland has a role as well? I am concerned about it. I fully support the increases in the budget for IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, but Údarás na Gaeltachta is being left behind to a degree. I know it is not the Minister's brief, but it needs to be raised at Cabinet. There needs to be extra capital funding to ensure we secure jobs in the Gaeltacht area which is also important to the Irish language.

Is there any evidence the IDA is being hampered by planning laws compared to other European countries? Are we more liable to challenges and delays in planning compared to other European countries, and could it have an impact on job creation? Have the IDA or Enterprise Ireland raised it with the Minister regarding major projects?

On subhead B5, I welcome the projects listed, including two in NUI Galway, namely Advancing Medicine Through Discovery and a new research building for arts, humanities and social sciences, to cost over €2.4 million. How are the projects evaluated regarding jobs potential and their impact on job creation? Is there very stringent oversight of the programmes by the Minister’s Department? There are several programmes, totalling some €23.5 million, which I welcome. What is the Department’s role in evaluating them?