Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 121: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of grant aid awarded by Enterprise Ireland to enterprises for research and development purposes in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28177/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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From 2004-2008, €130,861,000 has been grant aided by Enterprise Ireland under the initiatives below in order to help companies engage in R&D. Total yearly breakdown:

2004: €17,596,000

2005: €19,802,000

2006: €21,698,000

2007: €30,356,000

2008: €41,409,000

Enterprise Ireland operates three primary mechanisms aimed at helping companies to engage in R&D both within the company and in collaboration with third level institutions, namely: the research and development fund, through which funding goes directly to companies and the Innovation Voucher and Innovation Partnership initiatives, through which funding goes to third level Institutions to undertake work on a firm's behalf.

The Enterprise Ireland research and development fund is designed to provide support for research, development and technological innovation relevant at all stages of company development, and which will enable companies to progress from undertaking an initial research project to higher level innovation and R&D activities. The Fund is allied with a strong awareness campaign which seeks to promote the benefits of R&D. From 2004-2008 €103,937,000 has been grant aided directly to enterprise through this initiative and its predecessor (The Research, Technology and Innovation, or RTI, Fund) in order to help them to undertake specific R&D projects and to increase their R&D capabilities.

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 122: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of grant aid awarded by the Industrial Development Authority to enterprises for research and development purposes in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28178/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The amount of grants awarded by the Industrial Development Authority to enterprises for research and development purposes from 2005 to date in 2009 are shown on the following tabular statement. It is important to note that grants paid in a particular year do not necessarily refer to approvals in the same year.

The global business community now sees Ireland as a prime location for Research Development and Innovation (RD&I) functions. Government policies such as the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (SSTI) have played a key role in establishing this competitive advantage for Ireland. In 2008, IDA supported clients announced 56 RD&I projects with a projected investment of circa €420m. IDA Ireland will continue to target high value investments in keeping with the Government's current strategy outlined in the recent framework document "Building Ireland's Smart Economy". The amount of grants awarded by the Industrial Development Authority to enterprises for research and development purposes from 2005 to date in 2009

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 123: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of grant aid awarded by the county enterprise boards to enterprises for research and development purposes in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28179/09]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The County Enterprise Boards (CEBs) were set up in 1993 to provide support for micro-enterprises (ten or less employees) in the start-up and expansion phases, to promote and develop indigenous micro-enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level. The CEBs deliver a series of Programmes to underpin this role and they can provide both financial and non-financial assistance to a project promoter.

The forms of financial assistance, which are available, subject to certain restrictions, include Capital Grants, Employment Grants and Feasibility Study Grants. While CEBs do not award grants under the specific heading of Research and Development, the Feasibility Study Grant may assist with the cost of necessary pre-start up studies carried out for the purpose of assessing market interest in and demand for a proposed new product or service, the appropriateness of the associated funding plans and the general viability and sustainability of the venture.

During the past five years CEBs have provided approximately €3 million for such Feasibility Studies. While the obtaining of a feasibility study grant is not linked to the direct creation of a job in the enterprise or proposed enterprise the availability of these grants can contribute to greater enterprise creation which leads to employment creation in a broader context.