John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 155: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the number of applications under the propel programme received from Waterford city; the number of jobs projected to be created under this programme in Waterford city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20704/10]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the number of jobs created by agencies under his control in Waterford city in 2009 and to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20705/10]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the number of businesses in Waterford city that have been approved for funding under the growth fund in 2009 and to date in 2010; the amount of funding involved; the number of jobs created by this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20707/10]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 158: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the number of businesses in Waterford city that have been approved for company expansion funding by Enterprise Ireland in 2009 and to date in 2010; the amount of funding involved; the number of jobs created by this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20708/10]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 159: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the number of businesses in Waterford city that have been approved for funding by Enterprise Ireland in 2009 and to date in 2010 under its schemes for exploring new opportunities; the amount of funding involved; the number of jobs created by this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20709/10]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 160: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the number of businesses in Waterford city that have been approved for funding by Enterprise Ireland in 2009 and to date in 2010 under its schemes for research and development; the amount of funding involved; the number of jobs created by this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20710/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 to 160, inclusive, together.

The provision of grant assistance to individual companies is a matter for the development agency or body concerned, and not one in which I have a direct function.

It should be noted that data in relation to funding is collated on a County only basis, so it is not possible to provide specific data in relation to Waterford City.

The Propel Programme is a nationwide business development programme aimed at supporting the setting up of start up companies in the information technology and life science sectors that have significant export potential. The initiative, the latest stage of Enterprise Ireland's 'Propel Ideas into Business' Programme', is geared towards providing a select number of entrepreneurs and early stage businesses with the skills and training required to take the next step in expanding their service offerings. I understand from Enterprise Ireland that two applications have been received from companies in Waterford under this Programme and are currently at the evaluation stage.

The Growth Fund, launched in 2008, is designed to assist SME clients of Enterprise Ireland to achieve greater competitiveness by improving their export potential. This will be achieved by increasing both their gross output and gross productivity, while also providing new employment or maintaining existing employment levels. In 2009 and 2010, 3 companies from across Waterford, were approved funding totalling €578,341 from the Growth Fund. Typically, this funding is paid out over a two-year period.

Funding for company expansion is designed to assist companies achieve their growth plans. This includes support in the areas of capital equipment, training/management development, job creation, recruitment of key managers and R&D, with the focus on increasing exports. In 2009 and 2010, 16 companies were approved a total of €2,540,608 in Waterford with funding typically made available over a two to three year period.

Enterprise Ireland funding for investigating new ideas and markets is an essential aspect of business development. "Funding for Exploring New Opportunities" includes a range of different types of feasibility supports, assistance towards hiring a business mentor, attendance at trade fairs, and a range of consultancy supports. In 2009 and 2010, under this initiative, 30 companies from Waterford were approved funding totalling €523,416.

In addition, Enterprise Ireland provides critical in-company R&D funding 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 high-level innovation and R&D activity. In 2009/10 there was one R&D project approved for €90,607 in Waterford. Innovation Vouchers give small companies access to the vast knowledge available in Irish Institutes of Technology, Universities and other public research bodies. The average Irish company can use these vouchers, worth €5,000, to bring in knowledge that is new to the company. In 2009, 10 Waterford City traders pooled their vouchers for a total of €50,000 to develop a marketing strategy for local businesses.

All EI's supports to companies work in a complementary manner, so it is not possible to say the number of jobs created individually by these various forms of funding. Enterprise Ireland is the lead government agency responsible for the development of Irish enterprise. Its mission is to accelerate the development of world-class Irish companies to achieve strong positions in world markets. Enterprise Ireland delivers a wide range of supports to Irish companies, targeted at the specific requirements of clients throughout all regions to ensure that they develop to their full potential in terms of employment, innovation and exports, which in turn, stimulates further job creation. Across the full range of supports, EI client companies had 3,640 full time employees in Waterford during 2009.

Employment data in respect of companies supported by the Enterprise Agencies is collated by Forfás on an annual basis and accordingly no data is available for 2010. This data is compiled on a county basis only so it is not possible to provide specific data for Waterford City. In 2009, 332 new full-time jobs were created in enterprise agency assisted firms (IDA Ireland 71 and Enterprise Ireland 322) in Waterford. At the end of 2009, the numbers in permanent employment in Enterprise Agency Assisted firms in Waterford stood at 9,247.

The figures relating to net jobs existing in CEB-supported micro-enterprises are gathered in a CEB Job Survey each year. The net number of jobs existing in CEB-supported companies in Waterford (excluding jobs existing prior to CEB-support) as per the Survey for 2009 was 662. As figures are compiled on an annual basis, figures in respect of 2010 will not be available until early in 2011.

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the number of businesses in Waterford city that have been approved for grant aid by Industrial Development Authority Ireland in 2009 and to date in 2010; the breakdown by each category of grant; the amount of funding involved; the number of jobs created by this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20711/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The IDA grant payments figures for companies in Waterford City and County for 2009 and to date in 2010 are outlined below. Grant payment information is provided on grants paid, not on grants approved, and broken down on a county basis only.

2009 Grant Payments to County Waterford

2010 Grant Payments to date (17/05/10) to County Waterford

*Employment Subsidy Scheme

Since the beginning of 2007 there were four announcements in Waterford City and County in relation to multinational start ups and expansions, with 438 jobs announced. The names of the companies, excluding companies who do not wish to make an announcement, are set out in the table below. Jobs announced are typically created over a period of up to three to five years and grant payments are paid as jobs are created and the company makes a claim. In this regard no comparison should be made between the table of announcements and the figures provided in the table for grant payments.

Waterford and the South East is a high priority for IDA and the Agency is continuing to vigorously promote the region to potential new investors through its network of overseas offices and the various teams in its operational divisions. In line with the National Spatial Strategy, IDA Ireland is focussed on advancing the economic development of the region primarily through the Gateway of Waterford City as well as Kilkenny, Wexford, Dungarvan, Carlow and Clonmel.