Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the level of funding available for the job expansion fund and the competitive start fund in 2011; if this has changed since the budget; if the conditions have changed since the budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37386/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The objective of the Job Expansion Fund is to assist Enterprise Ireland client companies with significant growth potential achieve increased employment. A company can obtain grant support up to a maximum of €150,000 towards the recruitment of new employees. Under the Fund, commitments of €4.7m were made for 2011. The Job Expansion Fund is continuing along similar lines and so far in 2012, funding of €4.7m has been approved.

The Competitive Start Fund is focused on accelerating the growth of Lifesciences, Cleantech and Industrial start-up companies that have the capability to succeed in global markets. The Fund is designed to enable those companies reach their key commercial and technical milestones. The Fund is a competitive one with 4 calls for applications in 2011 and 3 calls to date in 2012 with a fourth call scheduled for the end of September.

In 2011 €2.75m was available in equity support and €96,250 in mentor support. The full amount was approved with 55 companies supported. In 2012, €3m has been made available in equity support and €105,000 in mentor support. It is expected that 60 companies will be supported under the Competitive Start Fund in 2012.