Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 November 2013
288. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will detail any consideration of budget cuts to the InterTradeIreland budget for 2013 to 2016; and the impact of such cuts on the services of InterTradeIreland. [49345/13]
View answer289. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will detail any budget reductions to InterTradeIreland that have been proposed by his Department, to the relevant Department in Northern Ireland as part of the budgetary process. [49346/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 288 and 289 together.
InterTradeIreland, the North South Implementation Body whose remit is to promote increased cross-border trade and business development, has a wide range of programmes to assist businesses on an all-island basis.
The budgets for InterTradeIreland and the other North South Bodies are agreed annually by the Departments of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland.
InterTradeIreland operates from a single base in Newry, Co. Down and is jointly funded in a 2:1 ratio, respectively, by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland. InterTradeIreland have adapted their offering in recent years, as a result of economic circumstances, to meet the specific needs of SMEs, North and South.
Their key programmes are now focused on promoting trade and innovation activities among SMEs which it is hoped will lead to an increase in the number of firms engaging in cross-border business and exporting to the other jurisdiction, and taking innovative steps to trading themselves out of difficult operating environments. This approach has proved very successful. For example, in 2012, there were 92 First Time Innovators firms (against a target of 35) and 67 First Time Exporters firms (against a target of 50) as a direct result of these firms participating in InterTradeIreland's programmes. To date in 2013, InterTradeIreland have engaged with 2,493 companies on an all-island basis and their activities have had a jobs impact to date this year of 550 (against a full year target of 200).
Since 2008, ITI has received Exchequer funding averaging €7.5M per annum. Over the next three years I am satisfied that the annual Irish budget contribution will be maintained at a similar level.
