Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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104. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to outline the extent to which he expects European Union assistance by way of innovation and technology to directly benefit the indigenous business sector in this country over the next five years; and the likely effect on the economy here as a result. [6550/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland’s Partnership Agreement with the European Commission sets out the agreed framework for the use of European Structural and Investment (ESI) funds in Ireland. The Partnership Agreement was adopted in November 2014. Specifically, in the context of support for innovation and technology, the following has been agreed between the European Commission and the Irish Government:

- €320 million for the Border, Midlands and West (BMW) Regional Operational Programme 2014-2020, with €160 million coming from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The Programme will be managed by the Northern and Western Regional Assembly.

- €498 million for the Southern and Eastern (S&E) Regional Operational Programme 2014-2020, with some €249 million coming from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The Programme will be managed by the Southern Assembly.

Accordingly, the total programme expenditure for the two ERDF Programmes, including EU and matching funding, amounts to just over €800 million.

The investments will benefit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular, spearheading entrepreneurship initiatives to boost the growth potential and competitiveness of Ireland's small business. The Programmes are expected to support more than 60,000 SMEs across the country with direct financial assistance or other support measures such as mentoring, management training and advisory services, creating over 9,000 jobs in directly-supported enterprises. A further 340 high-growth companies will benefit directly from R&D and Innovation supports.

The Programmes also aim to complement wider investment programmes in targeted high-growth and innovative sectors to support the creation of new quality jobs and boost innovation, as well as helping to grow the local economies, in these regions.

In addition to grant assistance available to Ireland under the above Programmes, Irish researchers and businesses can also compete for funding under the EU Framework Programme for research and innovation. The current EU Framework Programme for research and innovation, which is part of the drive to create new growth and jobs in Europe, is Horizon 2020. The Programme has a budget of close to €80bn. and runs over the period 2014-2020. Irish companies who compete successfully for funding from this large research funding resource will boost their innovative capability and competitiveness which in turn will deliver strong national economic impacts.

There are three main pillars in Horizon 2020 – Excellent Science, Industrial Leadership and Societal Challenges. There are specific opportunities for SMEs across the Horizon 2020 Programme, including an SME Instrument which can provide support for consortia of highly innovative smaller companies collaborating on projects.

The H2020 national support system is based in Enterprise Ireland consisting of a national office and a network of national contact points in the relevant programme areas. Information and support is available to enterprise and researchers to facilitate their engagement with the opportunities available under Horizon 2020.