Remember the launch of the “Succeed in Ireland” scheme at the start of March 2012? That was the one where €1,500 per job created was on offer to anyone who could bring jobs to Ireland. At the launch, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny forecast 5,000 new jobs would be created as a result of the scheme over a five year period. Fast forward to mid January 2013, and how many jobs have in fact been created?
Ten.
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton was responding to the Sinn Fein finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty, in the Dail today.
So, does this mean someone is walking away with €15,000 for the ten jobs created? Not at all, they’ll need wait for two years to confirm the jobs created are sustainable.
On a less derisory note, the Minister claims that there have been 54 referrals. It is unclear why only two have been approved, but Minister Bruton’s tenure has been characterized by a lackadaisical performance where the primary concern appears to be if today is finally the day that Enda Kenny slips on a big enough banana skin to open the possibility of another leadership challenge.
The full parliamentary question and response are below.
Deputy Pearse Doherty: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to the launch of the Succeed in Ireland programme as part of the Jobs Action Plan 2012, the total number of jobs created by the reward scheme; the number of referrals submitted by applicants for the reward; the number of jobs subject to the referrals; the total amount paid to date to referrers and the number of referrers to which that total relates.
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton: I am informed by IDA Ireland that, since the launch of the Succeed in Ireland initiative on 8 March 2012, two projects, with the potential to create 40 jobs, have been approved and 10 jobs have been created. There have been 54 referrals registered, with potential to receive a reward. The potential number of jobs which may be delivered from these 54 referrals is in the region of 1,500.
No payments have yet been made under the initiative. Fees become payable only on the creation of a sustainable job, i.e. a job that has been in place for 2 years.
An evaluation of the costs, benefits and impacts of the initiative will be undertaken by IDA Ireland later this year in consultation with my Department so that an informed decision can be taken on the merits of broadening out the initiative beyond a pilot scheme.
Surely an evaluation of costs, benefits and impacts would have been done beforehand rather than after ?
“The optics will continue until confidence improves”
A bit like “Cuts to consumer spending power will continue ’til consumer spending improves”