Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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332. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on whether a review of the Succeed in Ireland Project which was launched in March 2012 is warranted as the number of companies taking up the offers and incentives is less than what was expected and hoped for at the time of the launch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30316/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Succeed in Ireland is a new, innovative and ambitious scheme put in place by the Government as part of Action Plan for Jobs 2012. The initiative is intended to complement IDA’s efforts to attract more fast-growing emerging companies to Ireland and focuses on generating projects from Small and Medium Sized Enterprises. The Government recognises that, while IDA Ireland does excellent work in attracting large companies to invest, establish operations and create jobs in Ireland, any measures that can extend the reach of IDA, particularly to smaller companies who would consider investing and creating jobs in regional locations, is very positive for Ireland. Many of the projects delivered so far by the initiative will be located in regional towns which would not ordinarily be considered by large companies of the type usually attracted by IDA, and the same is true of many of the projects currently in the pipeline.

The initiative is managed by Connect Ireland under a contract with IDA Ireland. To date 7 projects, with the potential to create 215 jobs, have been approved. 205 of these jobs are in locations outside of Dublin. Connect Ireland are currently engaged with dozens of companies in relation to projects with the potential to create thousands of jobs and further announcements are to be expected in the near future.

A review of the initiative is currently being undertaken by officials of my Department in conjunctions with IDA and Connect Ireland and I hope to be in a position to bring the results and recommendations of that review to Government in the near future.