Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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289. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Enterprise Ireland high potential start ups that occurred here in 2012; the way the figure compares to each of the past five years; the average cost of these start ups for 2012 and for each of the past five years; the attrition rate of each of these high potential start ups for the past five years; the staff numbers and cost of each Enterprise Ireland office located abroad for 2012 and the past five years; and the work that has been done with other enterprise development organisations on the island of Ireland to create efficiencies and savings within these foreign offices. [42306/13]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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291. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Enterprise Ireland HPSU in each county here for 2012 and each of the past five years; the Enterprise Ireland HPSU investment figure for each county in 2012 and for each of the past five years; and the annual employment totals for Enterprise Ireland HPSU companies in each county for 2012 and each of the past five years. [42308/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 289 and 291 together.

Table 1 outlines the number of high potential start ups supported by EI between 2008 and 2012 along with the total and average HPSU funding paid and the number that having ceased trading.

Table 2 breaks down the number of high potential start-ups supported by EI between 2008 and 2012 by county. Data relating to annual HPSU investment and employment levels at county level is considered commercially sensitive as it could permit the identification of individual companies. It is therefore not proposed to provide this data at county level.

However, Table 3 provides 2012 Forfás Annual Employment Survey data for HPSUs supported by Enterprise Ireland between 2008 and 2012. It is important to note that employment survey data is not available for all companies and excludes employment by HPSUs which have been acquired or have been subject to merger. Of the 415 HPSUs approved by Enterprise Ireland between 2008 and 2012, 2012 Forfás Employment data is available for 81% (337). These companies employed a total of 3,603 people as of 31 October 2012.

Enterprise Ireland operates a wide geographical network of offices across the globe (currently 30) which is central to serving Irish indigenous industry and delivering on an export led recovery for Ireland. In total EI currently has 148.5 staff in overseas locations (this number includes some vacancies which are currently at the recruitment process stage). In addition sanction for 20 new overseas contract staff in targeted High Growth Markets has recently been approved to increase resources in support of Irish companies’ efforts in these markets. The staff complement includes staff assigned to overseas regions from Ireland with experience of working with Enterprise Ireland’s client base in Ireland and staff recruited locally in international markets with specific expertise and knowledge of the markets into which companies are exporting.

In comparison to other relevant comparator countries, Enterprise Ireland operates a very lean and relatively small scale overseas office network. EI has carefully marshalled its resources to best target and support client opportunities. EI’s overseas offices are reviewed annually as part of the organisation’s operational planning process to ensure that the trade and commercial opportunities for Irish companies are maximised.

EI works very closely with other Government Departments and Agencies with an overseas presence, including in the context of the delivery of the ‘Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy’ strategy, and the work of the Export Trade Council.

Where possible EI is co-located with Embassies, Consulates and other agency footprints, including IDA Ireland and Bord Bia, to minimise the overall cost of Ireland’s overseas network for example, 22 of EI’s 30 locations overseas are co-located. Where EI (in a small number of circumstances) is not co-located with another agency or body, this is primarily due to the location being a key business/commercial centre (rather than being the political centre where embassies are typically located). All EI’s overseas offices collaborate closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade team in Dublin and in relevant overseas Irish Embassies and Consulates. Furthermore, Enterprise Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland following the signing of a memorandum of understanding, can facilitate companies to take part in each others trade missions on a case by case basis.

EI’s overseas network and international team are critical resources which EI is seeking to maintain at current agreed staffing levels to support Irish companies increase sales from Ireland and to sustain and grow jobs in Ireland.

Table 1: Enterprise Ireland HPSUs 2008-2012

( )The HPSU funding period is taken to include all approvals within five years of the initial HPSU approval. Payment total shown here are as of 2 October 2013.

(2) Figures shown here are based on available information as of 4 October 2013.

Table 2: High Potential Start-ups Supported – Cohort Year & County

Table 3: 2012 Employment High Potential Start-ups Supported 2008-2012 – Source: 2012 Forfás Annual Employment Survey

Note: Employment data is provided as of 31st October 2012 and includes data for companies who may have closed in the intervening period – i.e. since the survey closed.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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290. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Enterprise Ireland supported firms in each county here for 2012 and each of the past five years; the Enterprise Ireland investment figure for each county in 2012 and for each of the past five years; and the annual employment totals for Enterprise Ireland supported companies in each county for 2012 and each of the past five years. [42307/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Enterprise Ireland’s mission is to partner with entrepreneurs, Irish businesses, and the research and investment communities to develop Ireland’s international trade, innovation, leadership, and competitiveness with the ultimate objective of job creation.

In 2012, total employment in Enterprise Ireland’s client companies increased to 169,451, made up of 145,460 in full time jobs and 23,991 in part-time positions. This positive performance by Irish companies was achieved notwithstanding the continuing economic challenges at home and abroad.

Table 1 below sets out the total employment figures in Enterprise Ireland supported companies in each county in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 including a breakdown between full-time and part-time jobs.

Tables 2 - 6 set out the number of Enterprise Ireland supported firms together with the total Investment figure for each county in 2012 and for each of the past five years.

Table 1 – The annual employment totals for Enterprise Ireland supported companies.

Table 3 - Enterprise Ireland Investment for each county in 2011

Table 4 - Enterprise Ireland Investment for each county in 2010

Table 5 - Enterprise Ireland Investment for each county in 2009

Table 6 - Enterprise Ireland Investment for each county in 2008