Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 125: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 211 of 21 October 2008, the funds that have been repaid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28251/09]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Payment and repayment of grants are day-to-day operational matters for the Industrial Development agencies.

While I do not have any role in the day-to-day operations of the agencies, I understand from Enterprise Ireland that grants are approved on foot of a business proposal ahead of the investment taking place. Grant payments subsequently follow the actual expenditure undertaken consistent with that business plan. Grants are usually paid on an instalment basis, and in most cases the company has a contingent liability to repay the grant for the term of the grant agreement, i.e. the company may be liable to repay the grant if it is in breach of the grant agreement. The term of a grant agreement is usually, and was in this case, five years from the date of payment of the last instalment of the grant.

In this particular case the company received approximately €370,000 in grant aid for the Ballaghadereen site during the past ten years. The grant agreements relating to this amount expired prior to the closure of the Ballaghadereen facility. For this reason there is no outstanding liability in respect of the grants paid.