Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 October 2022
163. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount paid to the European Space Agency from 2002 to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49534/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department manages Ireland’s membership of the European Space Agency (ESA). One of the principal reasons for Ireland’s investment in ESA programmes is to nurture and build a base of technologically sophisticated enterprises that develop and trial technology solutions via space applications, and then go on to develop new markets in a wide range of application areas based on the expertise they have built up, such as in other high reliability sectors such as automotive and aerospace.
Importantly, the global space economy presents real commercial opportunity to Irish companies. It was estimated to be worth over $350 billion US dollars in 2020 and prior to the COVID-19 crisis, it was expected to grow to $1 trillion US dollars by 2030.
ESA is the only access point for Ireland’s space active industry to develop and qualify their space technologies. Engagement with ESA creates a unique opportunity for Irish companies to win a share of the overall space economy. It complements national supports to Irish industry and offers a unique pathway to access highly specialised facilities and knowledge.
Ireland’s annual contributions, funded by my Department to ESA from 2002 to present date cumulatively is just over €325 million (including a direct contribution by Enterprise Ireland of €2.5M in 2021 to support specific industrial development activities).
ESA operates on the basis of “geo-return”, meaning a proportional amount of the money invested into ESA is returned to Irish businesses to develop and build new technologies. In that regard it is noted that Ireland currently has 97 space-active companies with ESA contracts and is well on the way to meeting the objective set in the National Space Strategy for Enterprise 2019 – 2025 of supporting 100 companies to benefit from ESA engagement.
Furthermore, in line with the commitments made in the National Space Strategy for Enterprise we have seen a significant increase in co-funding from industry in this sector. This represents a positive trend and is indicative of the growing strength of the space-active sector in Ireland.
We expect to pass a significant milestone in the coming months with the launch of EIRSAT-1, Ireland's first satellite, built by a team in UCD with support from Irish industry and ESA. This poses many commercial and educational benefits, and recognises our ambition in this sector.
Significant new opportunities are also emerging for enterprise to use satellite-derived data to develop high value services which can support policy making decisions, enterprise development and address global challenges, including climate change.
