I propose to take Questions Nos. 289 and 291 together.
Table 1 outlines the number of high potential start ups supported by EI between 2008 and 2012 along with the total and average HPSU funding paid and the number that having ceased trading.
Table 2 breaks down the number of high potential start-ups supported by EI between 2008 and 2012 by county. Data relating to annual HPSU investment and employment levels at county level is considered commercially sensitive as it could permit the identification of individual companies. It is therefore not proposed to provide this data at county level.
However, Table 3 provides 2012 Forfás Annual Employment Survey data for HPSUs supported by Enterprise Ireland between 2008 and 2012. It is important to note that employment survey data is not available for all companies and excludes employment by HPSUs which have been acquired or have been subject to merger. Of the 415 HPSUs approved by Enterprise Ireland between 2008 and 2012, 2012 Forfás Employment data is available for 81% (337). These companies employed a total of 3,603 people as of 31 October 2012.
Enterprise Ireland operates a wide geographical network of offices across the globe (currently 30) which is central to serving Irish indigenous industry and delivering on an export led recovery for Ireland. In total EI currently has 148.5 staff in overseas locations (this number includes some vacancies which are currently at the recruitment process stage). In addition sanction for 20 new overseas contract staff in targeted High Growth Markets has recently been approved to increase resources in support of Irish companies’ efforts in these markets. The staff complement includes staff assigned to overseas regions from Ireland with experience of working with Enterprise Ireland’s client base in Ireland and staff recruited locally in international markets with specific expertise and knowledge of the markets into which companies are exporting.
In comparison to other relevant comparator countries, Enterprise Ireland operates a very lean and relatively small scale overseas office network. EI has carefully marshalled its resources to best target and support client opportunities. EI’s overseas offices are reviewed annually as part of the organisation’s operational planning process to ensure that the trade and commercial opportunities for Irish companies are maximised.
EI works very closely with other Government Departments and Agencies with an overseas presence, including in the context of the delivery of the ‘Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy’ strategy, and the work of the Export Trade Council.
Where possible EI is co-located with Embassies, Consulates and other agency footprints, including IDA Ireland and Bord Bia, to minimise the overall cost of Ireland’s overseas network for example, 22 of EI’s 30 locations overseas are co-located. Where EI (in a small number of circumstances) is not co-located with another agency or body, this is primarily due to the location being a key business/commercial centre (rather than being the political centre where embassies are typically located). All EI’s overseas offices collaborate closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade team in Dublin and in relevant overseas Irish Embassies and Consulates. Furthermore, Enterprise Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland following the signing of a memorandum of understanding, can facilitate companies to take part in each others trade missions on a case by case basis.
EI’s overseas network and international team are critical resources which EI is seeking to maintain at current agreed staffing levels to support Irish companies increase sales from Ireland and to sustain and grow jobs in Ireland.
Table 1: Enterprise Ireland HPSUs 2008-2012
|
Cohort Year
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
|
High Potential Start-ups Supported
|
72
|
73
|
80
|
93
|
97
|
|
HPSU Funding Paid(1)
|
€20,359,632
|
€21,665,199
|
€20,862,588
|
€20,764,962
|
€16,301,768
|
|
Average cost
|
€282,773
|
€296,784
|
€260,782
|
€223,279
|
€168,059
|
|
High Potential Start-ups Ceased Trading(2)
|
17
|
13
|
6
|
5
|
1
|
( )The HPSU funding period is taken to include all approvals within five years of the initial HPSU approval. Payment total shown here are as of 2 October 2013.
(2) Figures shown here are based on available information as of 4 October 2013.
Table 2: High Potential Start-ups Supported – Cohort Year & County
|
Cohort Year/County
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
|
Carlow
|
|
|
|
2
|
1
|
|
Cavan
|
|
1
|
|
1
|
1
|
|
Clare
|
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
|
Cork
|
7
|
6
|
7
|
7
|
11
|
|
Donegal
|
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
|
Dublin
|
32
|
37
|
40
|
52
|
59
|
|
Galway
|
6
|
6
|
4
|
7
|
2
|
|
Kerry
|
1
|
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
|
Kildare
|
1
|
3
|
4
|
|
1
|
|
Kilkenny
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
Laois
|
1
|
|
1
|
1
|
|
|
Leitrim
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Limerick
|
7
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
4
|
|
Longford
|
1
|
|
|
1
|
1
|
|
Louth
|
3
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
|
Mayo
|
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
Meath
|
1
|
1
|
|
1
|
2
|
|
Monaghan
|
3
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
Offaly
|
|
2
|
|
1
|
|
|
Roscommon
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
Sligo
|
2
|
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
|
Tipperary
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
|
2
|
|
Waterford
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
5
|
|
|
Westmeath
|
1
|
|
|
1
|
1
|
|
Wexford
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
|
1
|
|
Wicklow
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
3
|
|
Grand Total
|
72
|
73
|
80
|
93
|
97
|
Table 3: 2012 Employment High Potential Start-ups Supported 2008-2012 – Source: 2012 Forfás Annual Employment Survey
|
Cohort Year
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
|
Number of HPSUs with 2012 Employment Data
|
52
|
62
|
65
|
79
|
79
|
|
Total 2012 Employment
|
740
|
728
|
623
|
957
|
555
|
Note: Employment data is provided as of 31st October 2012 and includes data for companies who may have closed in the intervening period – i.e. since the survey closed.
