I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 to 160, inclusive, together.
The provision of grant assistance to individual companies is a matter for the development agency or body concerned, and not one in which I have a direct function.
It should be noted that data in relation to funding is collated on a County only basis, so it is not possible to provide specific data in relation to Waterford City.
The Propel Programme is a nationwide business development programme aimed at supporting the setting up of start up companies in the information technology and life science sectors that have significant export potential. The initiative, the latest stage of Enterprise Ireland's ‘Propel Ideas into Business' Programme', is geared towards providing a select number of entrepreneurs and early stage businesses with the skills and training required to take the next step in expanding their service offerings. I understand from Enterprise Ireland that two applications have been received from companies in Waterford under this Programme and are currently at the evaluation stage.
The Growth Fund, launched in 2008, is designed to assist SME clients of Enterprise Ireland to achieve greater competitiveness by improving their export potential. This will be achieved by increasing both their gross output and gross productivity, while also providing new employment or maintaining existing employment levels. In 2009 and 2010, 3 companies from across Waterford, were approved funding totalling €578,341 from the Growth Fund. Typically, this funding is paid out over a two-year period.
Funding for company expansion is designed to assist companies achieve their growth plans. This includes support in the areas of capital equipment, training/management development, job creation, recruitment of key managers and R&D, with the focus on increasing exports. In 2009 and 2010, 16 companies were approved a total of €2,540,608 in Waterford with funding typically made available over a two to three year period.
Enterprise Ireland funding for investigating new ideas and markets is an essential aspect of business development. "Funding for Exploring New Opportunities" includes a range of different types of feasibility supports, assistance towards hiring a business mentor, attendance at trade fairs, and a range of consultancy supports. In 2009 and 2010, under this initiative, 30 companies from Waterford were approved funding totalling €523,416.
In addition, Enterprise Ireland provides critical in-company R&D funding designed to provide support for research, development and technological innovation relevant at all stages of company development, and which will enable companies to progress from undertaking an initial research project to high-level innovation and R&D activity. In 2009/10 there was one R&D project approved for €90,607 in Waterford. Innovation Vouchers give small companies access to the vast knowledge available in Irish Institutes of Technology, Universities and other public research bodies. The average Irish company can use these vouchers, worth €5,000, to bring in knowledge that is new to the company. In 2009, 10 Waterford City traders pooled their vouchers for a total of €50,000 to develop a marketing strategy for local businesses.
All EI's supports to companies work in a complementary manner, so it is not possible to say the number of jobs created individually by these various forms of funding. Enterprise Ireland is the lead government agency responsible for the development of Irish enterprise. Its mission is to accelerate the development of world-class Irish companies to achieve strong positions in world markets. Enterprise Ireland delivers a wide range of supports to Irish companies, targeted at the specific requirements of clients throughout all regions to ensure that they develop to their full potential in terms of employment, innovation and exports, which in turn, stimulates further job creation. Across the full range of supports, EI client companies had 3,640 full time employees in Waterford during 2009.
Employment data in respect of companies supported by the Enterprise Agencies is collated by Forfás on an annual basis and accordingly no data is available for 2010. This data is compiled on a county basis only so it is not possible to provide specific data for Waterford City. In 2009, 332 new full-time jobs were created in enterprise agency assisted firms (IDA Ireland 71 and Enterprise Ireland 322) in Waterford. At the end of 2009, the numbers in permanent employment in Enterprise Agency Assisted firms in Waterford stood at 9,247.
The figures relating to net jobs existing in CEB-supported micro-enterprises are gathered in a CEB Job Survey each year. The net number of jobs existing in CEB-supported companies in Waterford (excluding jobs existing prior to CEB-support) as per the Survey for 2009 was 662. As figures are compiled on an annual basis, figures in respect of 2010 will not be available until early in 2011.