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

I do not wish to be evasive but the written question tabled by the Deputy related to start-ups and the statistics provided to me relate specifically to start-ups. In general terms, the vast majority of start-ups are Irish. Enterprise Ireland supports approximately 185 start-ups. Only ten of those would be sponsored by non-Irish individuals. The vast majority of the run of money, running from €17 million in 2011 up to €29.5 million in 2014, has gone to Irish-owned companies. IDA Ireland does not support start-ups in that sense. Similarly, the local enterprise offices have approximately €18.5 million of which approximately 60% is directed at start-ups, very few of which would be international.

On Deputy Daly's wider question, more than two thirds of the budget of the Department is spent on Irish as opposed to overseas companies. Irish companies account for the vast majority of the jobs growth. IDA Ireland was involved in the creation of 7,500 net jobs, Enterprise Ireland was involved in the creation of 8,500 net jobs and local enterprise offices were involved in the creation of 4,000 net jobs. That is some 12,500 net jobs versus 7,500 net jobs on the export-oriented side. Most of our budget goes to Irish-owned companies and most of the job creation is in Irish-owned companies. Foreign-owned companies are an important part of the mix and we seek to have a balanced expansion. There is a fair devotion of resources. The investment in Irish companies is on a much broader range. A much broader suite of policy supports are available to Irish-owned companies including capability, lean processing, research and development, innovation, management development and access to finance supports.

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