I propose to take Questions Nos. 413 to 415, inclusive, together.
The Forfás Annual Employment Survey reports on job gains and losses in companies that are supported by the industrial development agencies. The number of new jobs created in IDA client companies in each of the years 2002 to 2011 is set out in the tabular statement. Figures for 2012 will not be available until the end of the year. Details of IDA Ireland’s job and investment announcements from 2008 onwards are available on the Agency’s website – www.idaireland.ie. Details of announcements in the period 2002 to 2007 are set out on the attached tabular statement. It must be remembered, however, that not all investment and job creation projects are announced.
Information relating to grants approvals for IDA client companies is confidential between the Agency and the client company. In all instances where financial assistance is approved by IDA for a company, the agency and the client enter into a legal and binding contract. The contract, which is confidential between IDA Ireland and the company, includes conditions and milestones with which the company is required to comply before any financial assistance is paid. IDA Ireland pays grants pro rata with achieved performance so, in order to draw down grants, a company must meet the agreed performance targets as set out in the contract.
I understand from IDA Ireland that there is normally a time lag of between 2 to 3 years between a grant approval and actual payment of the first instalment of that grant. In addition, grants are usually paid over a number of years when various criteria have been met by the client company. Accordingly, it is not possible to provide accurate data relating to grants awarded in a particular year but not drawn down in that year.
Grant payments are refunded to IDA Ireland when a company fails to meet the conditions outlined in the grant agreement or in instances where companies have closed. The total amount of grants refunded annually is contained in the financial statements to the Agency’s Annual Report and Accounts, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library. IDA’s Annual Reports for each of the years 2007 to 2011 are available on the Agency’s website www.idairelad.com.
Table showing Number of Jobs created in IDA Supported Companies in each of the years 2002 to 2011 inclusive
Year
|
Number of new jobs created
|
2002
|
11,407
|
2003
|
9,357
|
2004
|
10,846
|
2005
|
12,176
|
2006
|
12,531
|
2007
|
10,401
|
2008
|
9,203
|
2009
|
5,239
|
2010
|
9,075
|
2011
|
11,594
|