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

These programmes, of their nature, take time to evaluate. An evaluation of the scheme that is coming to an end would not be complete at this stage. However, sample indications from 69 companies suggest a total employment of 691 to date. Typically, these companies are export oriented. Total direct employment in companies in 2009 was 9,733. Generally speaking, these are high growth companies and it is only at the end of the fund that one can undertake a commercial evaluation. All or most of the high potential start-up companies have a target of delivering ten jobs within three years. Their performance is encouraging. Enterprise Ireland and Forfás regard the programme as being their best in terms of providing a return to the taxpayer. This is a source of continuing mixed source funding for these high growth companies.

The Deputy's question did not focus on evaluation, although I could assemble some more data for him. By and large, these companies have been successful and we can prove the leverage from the money we put in. It started out as 50:50 so we had to put in a euro to get a euro, while now we have to put in a euro to get three. Therefore, the leverage is improving as it goes along.

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