I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 to 146, inclusive, together.
The Growth Fund, launched in 2008, is designed to assist SME clients of Enterprise Ireland to achieve greater competitiveness by improving their export potential. Activities that lead to a sustainable improvement in productivity within a company may be supported under this competitive fund. These include capital investment, technology acquisition, recruitment of key managers, consultancy to assist with the implementation of the proposal, management development and staff training. In 2008, Enterprise Ireland approved €799,394 support to 3 companies from Waterford. In 2009 to date, Enterprise Ireland approved €481,791 support to 2 companies from Waterford.
Funding for company expansion is designed to help with funding for companies' expansion plans — this includes capital, training and employment supports, the focus of which is to increase exports. Since the beginning of 2006, Enterprise Ireland has approved €750,290 support for 4 company expansion projects to 3 companies from Waterford. In 2006, Enterprise Ireland approved €310,527 to 1 company in Waterford, while in 2009 to date €439,763 was approved to 2 companies in Waterford.
Funding for exploring new opportunities is focused on investigating new ideas and markets as an essential aspect of business development. Enterprise Ireland provides financial assistance in a range of areas including towards: Feasibility study grants, Going Global (for Irish services companies), Commercialisation of Research and Development (CORD), Enterprise Platform Programme, GreenTech Support, EU 7th Framework Programme Support, Market Research, R & D Stimulation, Consultancy, Business Acceleration Programme (BAP), Graduate placements, Export Orientation Programme (EOP), Mentors, Trade fair participation, Supply Chain Management and eBusiness Management.
Since the beginning of 2006, Enterprise Ireland has approved a total of 89 companies for 143 projects under ‘Exploring New Opportunities' amounting to €2,615,689 in Waterford. In 2006, Enterprise Ireland approved €548,963 to 31 companies. In 2007, Enterprise Ireland approved €703,692 to 35 companies. In 2008, Enterprise Ireland approved €879,185 to 42 companies. In 2009 to date, Enterprise Ireland has approved €483,849 to 28 companies.
Driving in-company research and development and the innovative application of knowledge will be critical drivers for the future success of Irish enterprise. Since the beginning of 2006, Enterprise Ireland has approved a total of €2,614,360 for research and development funding to 14 Waterford companies. In 2006, Enterprise Ireland approved €1,034,502 to 3 companies. In 2007, Enterprise Ireland approved €97,360 to 1 company. In 2008, Enterprise Ireland approved €1,145,591 to 7 companies. To date in 2009, Enterprise Ireland has approved €336,907 to 3 companies.
The Forfás Annual Employment Survey records jobs gained and lost in companies supported by the Industrial Development Agencies. Data is compiled on an annualized basis and is aggregated at county level. Data in relation to 2009 will not be available until mid 2010. The number of jobs created in Enterprise Ireland supported companies in Waterford was 409, 763 and 167 in 2006, 2007 and 2008 respectively.