Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

219. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if in order to be eligible for IDA Ireland RD&I grant support the R&D activity must be conducted in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21169/22]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The statutory basis for IDA Ireland RD&I grants is Section 29 of the Industrial Development Act 1986 (as amended).  This provides that grant support may be given for research and development that it is “...carried out wholly or mainly in the State..”. 

The legislation does not preclude an overseas element in a grant-aided project - for example, by the use of overseas experts as consultants on a project where that expertise is not available in Ireland. The likely economic benefit to the State in providing grant support for a particular RD&I project is a matter which is considered by IDA Ireland on a case-by-case basis.