At present the Industrial Development agencies under the aegis of my Department use a range of schemes to attract manufacturing or internationally-traded services operations to all parts of the country. The schemes available to all such companies in Dublin docklands are the same, and at the same aid rates, as those available elsewhere in Dublin.
For the country as a whole, schemes fall into a number of categories. Regional aid is paid, in areas where it is allowed under EU State aid rules, in the form of capital or employment grants or in the form of preference shares, and the amount payable is linked to the level of investment or to the numbers to be employed in the operation. However, since 1 January, 2007, regional aid is no longer payable in Dublin, and therefore not in Dublin docklands. Other categories of aid are payable on a uniform basis across the country. These include grants to support Research Development and Innovation, Training grants, and SME supports such as towards the carrying out of market research or towards participation in trade fairs.
Therefore, the category of schemes no longer available in Dublin docklands, or elsewhere in Dublin, is regional aid. The rate for regional aid in Dublin fell to 17.5% in 2000 and to 0% from 1 January, 2007.