Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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883. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the impact of the extension of the regional aid map to include Athy, County Kildare; if this has led to direct state aid to new or existing companies in the area to date; the efforts that have been taken to advertise this incentive for the area; and the companies in the Athy region which were approved payments by enterprise agencies. [22222/16]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Regional Aid Guidelines enable the State to grant State Aid, at enhanced rates, to businesses in order to support new investment and new employment in productive projects in Ireland's most disadvantaged regions. The 2014-2020 Regional Aid Guidelines entered into force on 1 July 2014. Areas accounting for 51.28% of Ireland’s population are now eligible for assistance under the Regional Aid Guidelines. This represents a substantial increase from the 25% originally proposed by the Commission, and an increase from the 50% under the 2007-2013 Map.

Athy is included in the 2014-2020 Regional Aid Map for Ireland.

Since the extension of the Regional Aid Map in 2014, IDA Ireland has been marketing all financial supports available in Athy to both existing and target clients. IDA’s Mid-East Regional Manager is working closely with Kildare County Council and local stakeholders in marketing Athy as a location for FDI investment.

IDA has three clients in Athy, two of which have been paid grant payments totalling €875,705.

Similarly, Enterprise Ireland works closely with the Local Authority and other Agencies in promotion of the various supports available under Regional Aid. Since the launch of the new Regional Aid rates, Enterprise Ireland has approved support for one company based in Athy by way of a Regional Aid grant of €125,265 grant.

As part of the Regional Action Plans for Jobs process commenced in 2014, the Mid-East Action Plan for Jobs was published in January 2016 with the stated aim of delivering 10-15% employment growth in the region up to 2020. Key sectors targeted as part of the plan include traditionally strong sectors for the region like international services, high-tech manufacturing, film industry, equine industry, agri-food, manufacturing/engineering and tourism, as well as areas targeted for future growth like digital payments, cleantech and creative services. The plan has specific targets for each sector for the period.

In addition, the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) in the counties covered by the Regional Aid Programme, including Kildare, are fully apprised of the Guidelines. All LEOs provide a signposting and referral service for their clients to supports available from other State Agencies and this would encompass information on the Regional Aid Schemes operated by agencies such as Enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta, etc.

In 2015, 32 clients were approved funding by the LEO Kildare to a total value of €597,053.