David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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620. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the level of IDA Ireland investment aid for each region under the regional aid guidelines from 2014 to 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29493/16]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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621. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the level of IDA Ireland investment aid for the south-east region under the regional aid guidelines from 2014 to 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29494/16]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 620 and 621 together.

The EU Regional Aid Guidelines (RAGs) allow the Government to grant State Aid to businesses in order to support new investment and employment in productive projects in disadvantaged regions. Areas accounting for 51.28% of Ireland’s population are eligible for assistance under the RAGs.

The 2014-2020 RAGs came into force on 1 July 2014. These specify both rules for the selection of regions which are eligible for regional aid and the maximum permitted levels of this aid. The eligible regions, including the South East, and the maximum percentage rates that are permissible to be paid in respect of eligible projects in Ireland are set out in Table A.

The grant assistance provided by IDA Ireland to its client companies can constitute regional aid for the purposes of the RAGs. However, some types of IDA grant assistance – such as research and development grants – cannot be categorised as regional aid.

The total amount of IDA grant assistance paid by county for 2014 and 2015, which includes both RAG assistance and non-RAG assistance, are set out in Table B. Further information in respect of this grant assistance will be furnished to the Deputy in due course as part of the forthcoming additional response to a Parliamentary Question submitted last month.

Table A: Designated Areas for Regional Aid under the State Aid Rules

Table B: Grant Payments by County 2014 and 2015