EU Funding.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 July 2004

Wednesday, 7 July 2004

Questions (161)

Emmet Stagg

Question:

157 Mr. Stagg asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of all State or European Union assistance granted to companies (details supplied) on their location here; the date payments were made; if further or subsequent payments were made in each case; if so, the amounts of such payments in each case; the agency involved in assessing and payment of the grant in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20671/04]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

Enterprise Ireland has responsibility for inward investment in the food and natural resources sector as well as for indigenous manufacturing and internationally traded services companies employing more than ten people. Grants paid to the companies, referred to by the Deputy, by the State development agencies, under the aegis of my Department, were as follows:

Weyerhaeuser Europe Ltd

Year	Payment (€)
1983	2,464,527.33
1984	1,578,973.89
1985	29,330.95
1986	32,290.71
1988	54,537.79
1989	3,688.59
1990	202,797.48
1991	275,576.04
1992	167,689.24
1993	187,334.62
1994	1,018,629.60
1995	2,283,959.15
1998	83,296.09
1999	117,587.91
2000	66,794.57
2001	80,474.72
2002	1,292,978.31
2003	429,426.00
2004	27,137.25

Finsa Forest Products Ltd

Year	Payment (€)
1982	18,434.06
1984	323,026.44
1985	1,164,974.53
1986	297,871.68
1988	906,592.99
1990	116,503.00
1991	253,038.46
1992	138,353.20
1993	323,255.00
1998	1,269,738.08
1999	1,904,607.12
2002	67,584.98

SmartPly Europe Ltd

Year	Payment (€)
1995	5,985,196.13
1996	6,712,184.66
1998	111,083.04
1999	194,163.27
2001	135,622.00
2003	275,054.68

Masonite Ireland

Year	Payment (€)
1996	6,933,524.13
1997	6,823,717.19
1998	1,294,492.89
1999	1,492,465.37
2001	107,659.82
2002	513,461.71
2003	46,119.50
2004	17,619.90

The programmes under which these grants were approved were eligible for co-funding under the various operational programmes of the European Structural Funds. Any eligible amount of co-funding is incorporated into the payments listed. The establishment and success of these board mills has been a critical factor in the overall development of the forest products sector in Ireland. In 2003 these four companies generated $220 million in sales and $150 million in exports. They currently employ 755 people in mainly rural areas.