Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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36. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of jobs created in 2016 and maintained to date in County Kildare under the Geoscience Ireland-Enterprise Ireland business cluster initiative; his plans for this initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13927/17]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of the question is to ascertain the extent of the success of the Geoscience Ireland-Enterprise Ireland cluster project, the number of jobs that have been created, how efficient and effective it is and what the results indicate.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Heydon for tabling the question and Deputy Durkan for putting it.

Geoscience Ireland, GI, is an initiative under my Department managed through the Geological Survey of Ireland, GSI. Geoscience Ireland is a business cluster of 31 indigenous Irish companies operating in the geoscience sector. The cluster is managed by the GSI, with support from Enterprise Ireland, EI, and a steering committee that also includes representation from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.  

GI was formed to maintain and create jobs in the geoscience sector by bringing together Irish companies to collaborate to win work overseas. It has been hugely successful to date with a net increase in job numbers of more than 470 since 2012. In 2015, the cumulative turnover of Geoscience Ireland companies was in excess of €310 million, 69% or €215 million of which was generated by exports.

The minerals sector has been estimated as having a value of over €800 million to the economy. Geoscience Ireland, along with the GSI and EI, co-operates closely to promote the Irish geoscience sector. GI is also becoming recognised both nationally and internationally as a successful model for the creation and development of a sectoral cluster, with its expertise increasingly being shared with other initiatives in Ireland.

GI member companies reported that 179 net new jobs were created in 2016. Those companies based or headquartered in County Kildare created a total of 46 net new jobs in 2016. It is estimated that approximately half of these jobs are based in Kildare, with the balance of staff distributed across branch offices in Dublin and the UK.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. To what extent will further expansion will be considered in County Kildare with obvious benefits for the county? To what degree does the success to date indicate sufficient confidence to progress in that direction? What potential is there for further job creation on a major scale?

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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This is an excellent news story. In 2010-11, GSI, EI and five reference companies in the geoscience sector identified opportunities for Irish companies on the international markets and established Geoscience Ireland to target those opportunities, thus protecting and creating jobs in the face of a beleaguered domestic market. The geoscience expertise offered by GI's consultancy companies include geology, geophysical and geochemical surveying, geotechnical engineering, civil engineering, environmental advisory planning and remediation, and hydrology and hydrogeology. GI member companies are operating and contracting works, providing services for mining and quarrying, drilling for mineral exploitation, and engaged in water and geotechnical projects and infrastructural development. In Kildare, GI companies established 46 new jobs in 2016 and there is great potential for job creation. They are allowing companies which are trying to expand into Europe to collaborate to best utilise their resources to win overseas jobs and investment and that will have a knock-on effect on companies headquartered in Kildare.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Based on current analysis, can I ask the degree to which it might be possible to determine the full extent of the potential of the programme nationally, and in County Kildare, and to examine the possibilities?

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Four companies were involved in job creation in County Kildare - Murphy Surveys Limited, Irish Geotechnical Services Limited, Blaney and Reid Geological Limited and Trench Control Limited. They added 28 jobs in Kildare with the balance of jobs created in Dublin and the UK. Currently, there are 31 partner companies, which is up from 28 in a short time. Companies are contacting GSI to become involved in Geoscience Ireland, which is an excellent recognition of the success of the programme and the collaboration between GSI and EI. The full potential has not been realised and there are opportunities for growth, both in Kildare and nationally, as domestic companies expand and achieve international success and grow their companies internationally.