Written answers

Tuesday, 7 March 2017

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Jobs Data

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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802. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the cost per job in taxpayer support of jobs created by IDA Ireland and ConnectIreland respectively. [11405/17]

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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803. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the reason a review is being conducted into ConnectIreland; and the reason the programme is being shut down before the results of that review are published. [11406/17]

Photo of Mary Mitchell O'ConnorMary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 802 and 803 together.

The contract underpinning the Succeed-in-Ireland initiative, which has been operated by Connect Ireland since March 2012, is set to conclude on 26 March 2017. This had been due to expire in March 2016 but was extended for a further 12 months last year. The purpose of that extension, which was jointly agreed by Connect Ireland and IDA Ireland, was to facilitate both parties in effecting an orderly wind down of the original contract.

A review of the initiative’s performance and operation will shortly be commissioned by my Department. This will allow us to better understand its contribution to employment generation in the State. As I have said before in the Dáil, I believe it is in the interests of good governance that this review be undertaken before a determination is made on the long-term future of the programme.

As regards the cost to the exchequer of IDA Ireland client company jobs, the most recent available figures cover the period between 2009-2015. These indicate an average cost of €10,553 per position.

I understand, from the IDA, that the Succeed-in-Ireland initiative has created 527 jobs on the ground. IDA Ireland has paid €2,069,000 to Connect Ireland as a financial reward for those 527 positions. The Agency has also provided Connect Ireland with a further €150,000 for marketing support for the operation of the programme. My understanding is that the remainder of Connect Ireland’s operating costs are met by the company itself.

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