Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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268. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide in tabular form the total funding Enterprise Ireland has provided from the high potential start-up funding scheme for each year from 2010 to 2014; if he will provide for each of these years the total number of companies which have received funding from this specific scheme; the cumulative total number of jobs that have been created after this form of funding has been provided to these companies; the cumulative amount of additional exports in euro that have been generated by these companies after they have received this form of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2235/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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In its End of Year Statement published on 12 January 2015, Enterprise Ireland reported that client companies created 19,705 new jobs in 2014. This resulted in a net increase of 8,476 in the number of people employed by Enterprise Ireland supported companies, the highest net gain in the history of the agency. This increase in employment reinforces Enterprise Ireland’s strategy of driving innovation, scale and leadership positions in international markets and new sectors.This continuation of employment growth demonstrates clearly the direct impact that increasing exports has on jobs in Ireland. Enterprise Ireland supported companies now, directly and indirectly, account for more than 300,000 jobs in the Irish economy - 16% of total workforce.

These full-time employment and total employment levels are the highest recorded in the history of the agency.

Enterprise Ireland offers a range of financial and non-financial supports to assist clients to win business and sustain and create jobs through all stages of the business development cycle.

Start-ups remain a key source of employment for the Irish economy and over time many start-ups will develop and grow and emerge as the medium and large sized companies of the future. Supporting Start-ups through feasibility funding, Competitive Start Funds, High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) supports and the LEO network is critical to job creation now and in the future.

As part of the Enterprise Ireland’s offering in the Start-Up space the agency looks to develop and target HPSUs. HPSU companies are defined as start-up ventures that are:

- Introducing a new or innovative product or service to international markets.

- Involved in manufacturing or internationally traded services.

- Capable of creating 10 jobs in Ireland and realising €1 million in sales within three to four years of starting up.

- Led by an experienced management team.

- Headquartered and controlled in Ireland.

- Less than six years old.

The tabular statement shows the number of HPSUs approved from 2010 to 2014 and the total amount paid to these companies in relation to all approvals from the year they became a HPSU.

These companies have created 3,706 jobs (3,287 full-time and 419 part-time) between 2010 and 2014.

The most recent export data available is from the 2013 Annual Business Review survey. The 2014 survey results will be available in April 2015. Of the 374 HPSUs approved between 2010 and 2013 182 participated in the 2013 ABR and reported total sales of €144.3 million inclusive of €85.8 million in exports.

Number of HPSUs 2010 to 2014 and total amount of funding* paid as at 15 January 2015.