Written answers

Thursday, 5 November 2015

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Enterprise Support Services Provision

Photo of Shane RossShane Ross (Dublin South, Independent)
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120. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs that have been created to date as a result of the Irish Design 2015 campaign; the costs associated with the campaign to date; if he will outline what, if any, tendering process was in place for contracts granted for Irish Design 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38843/15]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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In November 2013, the Government agreed to support the Global Irish Economic Forum's proposal to designate a year to celebrate Irish Design. It is widely recognised that encouraging businesses to invest in good quality design as a key component of innovation and competitiveness will maximise opportunities for success in today’s competitive marketplace and ultimately create additional jobs here in Ireland. ID2015 will enjoin all parts of the Irish design economy in a concerted effort to promote design as a key business differentiator and employment generator. Primarily, ID2015 will aim to generate:

1,800 additional jobs in the design sector over 2015-2019;

200 new design enterprises established in 2015 and registered with DCCoI;

€10m (5%) growth in design-related exports in 2015;

Participation of 300+ SMEs in international trade missions and design-based trade events over 2015/16.

50+ SMEs involved in a ‘Design for Growth’ Programme (2015/16);

In July 2015, an interim report was published on ID2015. Highlights of the programme at that stage included:

33 companies supported through the International Trade Fund, to participate in 50 international trade events, generating new market penetration and export opportunities. Early feedback received to date from 15 participants indicates that they have generated in excess of €3.8 million of new business as a result of being at the relevant trade fairs,

15 new Design Networks established, bringing designers, design organisations and design users together,

336 new designers/companies registered with the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCOI), Institute of Designers in Ireland and the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland,

Over 160 Irish designers, studios and companies showcased internationally at exhibitions, trade fairs etc, generating leads with significant potential for exports and job creation,

DesignED, a design innovation programme and toolkit for 2nd level students distributed to 3,145 students. It seeks to embed design thinking and entrepreneurship into the curriculum,

To complement the designED project, CRAFTed, a 1st level programme introducing pupils to design and craft has been rolled out to 1,725 primary school pupils during 2015. In addition, to date over 8,000 schoolchildren have engaged with the education and outreach programmes through the Dublin Design Hub and National Craft Gallery.

50 SMEs are currently participating in the Design4Growth Voucher, which was launched in September and is aimed at encouraging small enterprises to use strategic design to improve their businesses. This Scheme, modelled on the very successful "Trading On-line Voucher Scheme", is being piloted by Dublin City Local Enterprise Office (LEO).

Design Start-Ups, a start-up programme for creative industry entrepreneurs will shortly be rolled out, providing training for 40+ designers/SMEs selected in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and LEOs.

To date through ID2015 Educational Outreach and other activities, over 6,000 designers have received training and over 1,600 business professionals have received design training during 2015.

Irish Design 2015 was allocated funding totaling €5 million in 2015. An additional €500,000 was spent in 2014 on preparatory work.

I understand that all ID2015 contracts were subject to a robust tendering process, and advertised through the ID2015 website, the DCCoI website and in the national newspapers.

The preliminary results of the campaign will be examined as part of a post-ID2015 evaluation to be undertaken early in 2016.

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