Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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17. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the Succeed in Ireland scheme; if she will direct the IDA to suspend any proposals to deny the operating contract of the scheme to ConnectIreland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14418/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Succeed-in-Ireland initiative has been operated by ConnectIreland on the basis of a contract with IDA Ireland that was originally agreed in March 2012. The contract, which was extended by 12 months in March 2016, is now set to conclude on 26 March. I understand that it would not be permissible for any further extension to be granted on account of public procurement law. 

The Board of IDA Ireland, at its meeting in November 2016, did consider the future of the initiative. It decided that the Agency would not re-tender for its continuation at this stage. A definitive decision was not taken, however, on the ultimate future of The Succeed-in-Ireland programme.

I have asked my Department to commission a review of the initiative after the conclusion of the current contract. This will help provide us with a better understanding of Succed-in-Ireland's results and its wider contribution to employment generation in the State. The review may also consider the development of a new programme. I believe it is important that this review be undertaken before a determination is made on how we proceed.