Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 March 2023
48. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide details on the grants given by IDA Ireland to each of the largest 20 technology companies, by value, that are client companies of the agency in each of the years 2013 to 2023, respectively, under various headings such as employment, training, research and development and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14143/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra49. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide information on the amount of moneys repaid to the State by the largest of the 20 technology companies, by value, that are client companies of the IDA in each of the years 2013 to 2023, respectively, with a particular focus on the area of employment grants where employment targets and conditions of grants were not met in terms of maintenance of employment numbers for a specified period and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14144/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 49 together.
As the Deputy is aware, IDA Ireland offers a wide range of financial assistance to companies wishing to locate and/or expand their existing operation in Ireland including but not restricted to:
- Capital;
- Employment;
- Training;
- R&D and environmental supports.
The table attached set outs grant payments to the top 20 Technology companies by grant type and by year from 2013 to 2022 inclusive.
In all instances where financial assistance is approved by IDA Ireland for a company, the Agency and the client enter into a legal and binding contract - a "grant agreement". The contract which is confidential between IDA Ireland and its client includes conditions and milestones that the client is required to comply with before any financial assistance is paid. Clients sign the grant agreement in full knowledge that the penalty for non-performance is pro-rata repayment of grants. IDA Ireland follows up the claw-back - known as "revocation of grants" - where the client has not achieved the agreed performance target or, if appropriate, in the event of a company closure. These cases are reported in the Agency’s Annual Financial Statements.
The table below outlines the number of companies and the total grants repaid to IDA Ireland in each year for the period 2013 – 2022 inclusive. Information such as company names is confidential and commercially sensitive as IDA Ireland is in ongoing relationships with many of the companies on existing and potentially new investments and the companies continue to provide significant employment in Ireland.
|
Year |
No of Companies in the top 20 Technology Companies that repaid grants |
€’000 |
|
2014 |
One Employment Grant Repayment |
1,413 |
|
2020 |
One Employment Grant Repayment |
394 |
