John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

224. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of technical feasibility grants awarded to companies based in County Waterford. [46157/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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. The ultimate objective is increased employment and prosperity in Ireland.

Enterprise Ireland offers financial support to help companies investigate the viability of a new export oriented business or proposition or to develop a new product, process, technology or service offering. This is offered through a feasibility grant. In many cases, if the feasibility grant is successful, many companies go on to carry out a larger business development project (such as an Innovative HSPU package) or an RandD project with the assistance of Enterprise Ireland. Typical elements of a feasibility study include market research, business plan development, technical research and prototyping.

Table 1 identifies the number of technical feasibility payment transactions to companies in County Waterford by Enterprise Ireland between 2010 and 2015.

Technical Feasibility studies are a subset of the feasibility grant offer. Table 2 identifies the number of feasibility study payment transactions to companies in County Waterford by Enterprise Ireland over the period, 2010 to 2015. Feasibility study grant offers include technical feasibilities, RandD stimulation grants, CORD grants, HPSU feasibility, Food Works Feasibility grants, Competitive feasibility Fund and Going Global grants.

Table 1:No of payment transactions for Technical Feasibility Grants to companies in County Waterford between 2010 and 2015.

Table 2:No of feasibility study payment transactions to companies in County Waterford by Enterprise Ireland between 2010 and 2015.