Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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112. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding the decision to end her Department's contract with a group (details supplied); the number of jobs created by the group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32637/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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My Department was not a party to the contract in respect of the Succeed-in-Ireland initiative. The contract underpinning the initiative was between the IDA and the company contracted to operate it, Connect Ireland.

The Board of the IDA decided, in November 2016, not to retender for the initiative at that time. A further extension of the original contract was also not possible as this would have constituted a breach of public procurement law.

No decision has, however, been taken with regard to the ultimate future of the Succeed-in-Ireland initiative. This will await the outcome of a comprehensive review of the programme and its contribution to employment generation in Ireland that will be commissioned by my Department. I expect the review to begin after the final data in relation to the full costs of the initiative becomes available.

At present, the scheme has delivered a figure of 580 jobs that have been verified and delivered on the ground.