John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for his informative contribution. I also welcome the representatives of Connect Ireland. Again, I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

I emphasise that attracting foreign direct investment to Ireland, especially to rural Ireland, is a key priority of the Government. I very much appreciate the role foreign direct investment has played in our economic development, as does the Minister. That is why we are continuing to do our best to get more overseas companies to locate or expand here and create new employment opportunities. The Succeed in Ireland initiative which has been operated by Connect Ireland since 2012 has contributed to our wider national efforts to win more foreign direct investment and create jobs. I understand from IDA Ireland which oversees the programme that a total of 527 new positions have been created to date. These are the figures I have been given. Payments totalling €2.069 million have also been made to Connect Ireland as a financial reward for these positions.

As has been well documented, the initiative is set to conclude on 26 March. This is in accordance with the terms of a contract extension agreed jointly by IDA Ireland and Connect Ireland in March 2016. The purpose of the extension, into which both parties entered voluntarily, was to allow for an orderly wind-down of the original contract that underpinned the initiative. IDA Ireland has no plans in place to tender for the continuation of the programme, but I want to make it clear that no decision has yet been made on the ultimate future of the Succeed in Ireland initiative. Instead, we first want to assess the contribution and performance of the Succeed in Ireland initiative before a determination is made on how to proceed in the long term.This represents a reasonable approach as we near the end of the contract. That is why a review of the programme will shortly be commissioned. I cannot supply a date, as I do not know when it will be, but the review is in the process of being commissioned. It will allow for a full assessment of the initiative's costs and employment impact and will help to inform our future approach.

I hope that I have clarified the situation in respect of the Succeed in Ireland initiative. Creating sustainable employment across Ireland will remain a core objective for the Government and me. No ultimate decision has been taken ahead of the upcoming review.