Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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275. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will confirm that 60 new and additional posts have been created to date through the micro-enterprise loans fund; and if he will provide a breakdown of same on a county basis. [20105/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Microfinance Ireland (MFI) began operating in October 2012. For the period covering 1st October 2012 to 31st March 2013, 44 microenterprises have been supported resulting in a total of 116 full time equivalent jobs supported. Of these jobs supported 60 are in existing enterprises while the balance are new jobs. I note there has been a significant increase in March in applications and I look forward to continued interest in the facility as its availability becomes better known.

The analysis of the breakdown of approvals by county is on page 6 of MFI’s progress report detailing the first 6 months of its operation which is now available on my Department’s website enterprise.gov.ie and is also published on MFI’s website microfinanceireland.ie. It is my intention that reports of this nature will be published on a quarterly basis to ensure openness and transparency on the operation of this innovative scheme.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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276. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the percentage of new jobs that were created in 2012 and in Q1 2013 by Industrial Development Agency supported companies on a county basis. [20106/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Forfás Annual Employment Survey reports on job gains and losses in companies that are supported by the enterprise development agencies. Details of the number of new jobs created in IDA Ireland client companies in 2012, on a county by county basis, are set out in the attached tabular statement. As data is compiled on an annual basis, results for 2013 will not be available until year end.

While reductions in overall employment figures were recorded in 2012, including a reduction in public sector numbers, there was a net increase of almost 12,000 in private sector employment over the year. This growth was predominantly in the export-oriented sectors which are supported by the enterprise development agencies, as well as in tourism.

The client companies of the enterprise development agencies under the aegis of my department created almost 10,000 net jobs during 2012. IDA Ireland client companies created 6,570 new net jobs, the highest number of new jobs in a decade, while Enterprise Ireland client companies created over 3,338 net new jobs.

Table showing the number of new jobs created by IDA client companies in 2012

on a county by county basis.