Seán Sherlock
Ceist:1217. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the amount paid to the European Space Agency from 2016 to date in 2018. [32657/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 24 July 2018
Ceisteanna (1217)
Freagraí scríofa
Ireland has been a member of the European Space Agency (ESA) since 1975. Ireland’s membership of ESA and targeted investment in ESA’s Optional Programmes has allowed Ireland to develop an industrial sector in space technologies and equipment.
Membership of ESA not only allows Irish companies and researchers access to a €5 billion per annum research-performing organisation, it also provides the sole means of obtaining critical space technology qualification which enables Irish companies to compete on the European and Global commercial space market.
The value of ESA contracts won by Irish companies has increased from €9.9million in 2011 to €13.9million in 2017. This increase is in line with the growing capabilities of Irish companies within the expanding space sector. Furthermore, a Technopolis report (2015) which evaluated Ireland’s involvement in the European Space Agency determined that:
- Commercial sales by Irish companies directly resulting from ESA support expanded from €43M in 2013 to over €75m in 2015, and projected to grow to €133M by 2020;
- Irish companies involved in ESA contracts had a combined turnover of €274M in 2013 and projected to increase to over €0.5B by 2020; and
- ESA supported employment in Irish companies is expected to double from 2,000 in 2014 to over 4,500 in 2020.
The amounts paid to the European Space Agency between 2016 to date in 2018 are set out below:
|
Year |
Investment in ESA (€’000) |
|
2016 |
19,279 |
|
2017 |
18,779 |
|
2018 (to date) |
14,326 |
|
Total |
52,384 |