FAQ

1. IDA Ireland 1.1 What is the History of IDA Ireland?

1949 - IDA Ireland was formed as part of the Department of Industry & Commerce

1958 - Introduction of first programme for economic expansion which removed protectionism, encouraged Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and promoted exports

1965 - Anglo-Irish free trade area agreement.

1969 - IDA Ireland was incorporated as an autonomous state sponsored body under the Industrial Development Act. Responsible for all aspects of industrial development.

1973 - Ireland joins EU

1994 - IDA Ireland was divided into three separate organisations following a government review:

1.2 Why was IDA Ireland set up?

Initially to stimulate, support and develop export-led business and enterprise in Ireland. This covered both indigenous and foreign investment and start-up enterprises.

Since 1994 IDA Ireland focuses exclusively on the promotion and development of high-quality foreign direct investment (FDI) in Ireland, in the manufacturing and international services sectors.

1.3 What is IDA Ireland's current strategy?

IDA Ireland's current strategy is based on a policy of attracting investors who are seeking locations for advanced manufacturing or office based activities which depend on highly skilled processes or are involved in high value added activities e.g. ICT, knowledge based industries and biotechnology.

Our strategy is based on the following objectives:

• To continue to attract suitable, high quality, knowledge and skills based Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Ireland. To place Ireland at the leading edge of the global economy in specific niches.
• To achieve a better, more equitable regional balance in investment across Ireland. To mobilise regions rather than local areas to compete actively with regions internationally.
• To develop clusters of excellence in which a range of companies and R&D centres operate to create a climate of innovation and entrepreneurship.
• To work with current inward investors to move up the value chain and utilise the ever-expanding skills base of the Irish workforce. To encourage companies to move towards more advanced technological processes with a greater focus on R&D.
• To influence improvements in infrastructure and skills.
  

Further information in IDA Ireland Strategy - Horizon 2020 - press release and PDF

1.4 What is the structure of the IDA?

Structure of the IDA - Word document (21kb).

IDA Worldwide has details for contacting all of our offices worldwide.

1.5 How is the IDA Funded

IDA Ireland is funded mainly from Exchequer allocations each year, with additional funding coming from property sales, grant refunds and a small portion from EU funds.

Further Information in the Financial Statements of the IDA Annual Report 2011

1.6 What is the impact of Foreign Direct Investment on the Irish economy?

Over 1,000 IDA supported companies in Ireland employ over 146,000 people. These companies accounted  for exports of over €115 billion and generate €19 billion of expenditure in the economy.

IDA Annual Report 2011 - Impact of FDI (Foreign Direct Investment)

What major contributions has FDI made to Ireland?

• A strong export-led contribution to economic growth.
   
• Employment intensive growth.
   
• A key driver of business friendly infrastructure, human resource development and regulatory change which has benefited the economy as a whole.
   
• FDI has also been a key driver of new technology, skills, management and business know-how with a global orientation. It has also provided a breeding ground for Irish entrepreneurs.
   
• FDI has given Ireland scale and critical mass in new technologies far faster than could otherwise have been achieved.
   
• Substantial Corporation Tax revenues (an estimated €2.8bn in 2010), and additional tax revenue from income tax and indirect taxes, have helped us to be able to afford the cost of new infrastructure and human resource developments, envisaged under the National Development Plan, essential to sustaining economic growth in the future.

IDA End of Year Statement 2011

First half of 2012 -

• IDA client companies announce over 5,000 jobs in first six months of the year despite increasing global competition
   
• Falling office rents, construction costs, energy, unit labour and services costs help offset difficult global economic environment
   
• Increase in capital intensive projects will provide boost to construction industry
   
• Many leading multinational companies hiring – job opportunities across a range of sectors

Strong flow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) continues in first half of 2012

IDA Ireland Annual Report 2011

Source: Based on the Annual Business Survey of Economic Impact, co-ordinated by Forfás and administered by Insight Statistical Consulting.

Note 1: The Survey is based on manufacturing and internationally traded services companies with 10 or more employees (excluding regulated financial services companies).

Note 2: Results are based on companies responding to the survey in 2011 (grossed-up to reflect non-respondents).

1.7 Where are the IDA regional and international offices located?

IDA Worldwide has details for contacting all of our offices worldwide.

2. IDA Ireland Incentives 2. 1. What corporation tax level applies in Ireland?

Ireland has used tax measures for many years as a means of facilitating the establishment and expansion of indigenous and overseas companies.

By agreement with the European Commission, a new single low rate of corporation tax on trading income of 12.5% applies from January 2003. A 25% corporation tax rate applies to passive income of companies. Further information is available in the IDA Ireland Tax Brochure 2012 - PDF

2.2 How does IDA Ireland evaluate potential investment projects?

The process of negotiations can take a number of months, the timescale being largely dictated by the speed with which the applicant company can respond to IDA Ireland and provide it with information. Following an introductory meeting IDA Ireland will, if it is interested in the project, request the submission of a formal business plan. In broad terms, the business plan should cover the following areas:

• Background information on the company, including a brief history of the company, a description of its product range and markets, a commentary on the company's financial status and a brief resume of key individuals in the company;
• A description of the project which it proposes to locate in Ireland and the reasons for selecting Ireland. This description should cover expected number of jobs to be created, markets to be served from Ireland, the level of investment and the expected contribution to the Irish economy;
• Ownership structure for the Irish operation;
• Financial projections for five years, with details of assumptions underlying these projections

The number, quality and location of jobs to be created are major determinants of the overall grant amount awarded.

2.3 What types of companies are targeted for FDI?

IDA Ireland has selectively targeted certain areas of industry, in particular, those which produce sophisticated and high value products and services.

These also offer the best growth potential and the best prospects of generating long-term sustainable employment in Ireland.

The targeted sectors are:

• Business Services
• Consumer Products
• Clean Technology
• Entertainment and Media
• Industrial Products and Services
• Information and Communications Technologies
• ICT Cloud Computing
• International Financial Services
• Life sciences - Medical Technologies
• Life sciences - Pharmaceuticals
• Emerging Business
   

The success of Ireland's inward investment policies is evidenced by the fact that over 1,000 foreign-owned companies have chosen to establish bases in Ireland.

3. Agencies supporting Irish industries3.1 Enterprise Ireland

Enterprise Ireland is the Government organisation charged with assisting the development of Irish enterprise. Its clients are mainly Irish manufacturing and internationally traded services companies employing ten or more people, and overseas food and natural resources companies operating in Ireland.
Enterprise Ireland also administers National and EU supports for building technological innovation capability and co-operation between industry and higher educational institutions. It also provides a range of services to help international business access and evaluate appropriate and competitive sources of supply in Ireland.

Enterprise Ireland
East Point Business Park
Dublin 3
Tel: +353 1 727 2000
Fax: +353 1 727 2020
Email: client.service@enterprise-ireland.com
Web: http://www.enterprise-ireland.com

3.2 SFI - Science Foundation Ireland

SFI is the national foundation for excellence in scientific research. SFI is investing in academic investigators and research teams, to generate new knowledge, leading edge technologies and competitive enterprises in the fields of science and engineering which underpin the broad areas of Biotechnology, Information and Communication Technology and sustainable energy and energy efficient technologies.

SFI
Wilton Park House
Wilton Place
Dublin 2
Ireland
Tel: + 353  1 6073200
Email: info@sfi.ie
Web: http://www.sfi.ie

3.3 Shannon Development

Shannon Development's remit is to develop industry, tourism and rural development in the wider Shannon area. The Shannon Region covers an area of 10,000 sq. kms spanning the counties Clare, Limerick, North Tipperary, South Offaly and North Kerry.

Shannon Development
Shannon Town Centre
Shannon
Co. Clare
Ireland
Tel: + 353 61 361555
Fax: + 353 61 361903
Email: info@shannon-dev.ie
Web: http://www.shannondev.ie

3.4 Údarás na Gaeltachta

Údarás na Gaeltachta's role combines economic development (creating sustainable jobs and attracting investment to the Gaeltacht) with community cultural and language-development activities working in partnership with local communities and organisations in Gaeltacht area. The word "Gaeltacht" refers to areas where the Irish language is the community language. The Gaeltacht area covers extensive parts of counties Donegal, Mayo, Galway and Kerry, all of which are on the western seaboard, together with parts of counties Cork, Meath and Waterford.

Údarás na Gaeltachta
Na Forbacha
Gaillimh
Éire
Tel: +353 91 503100
Fax: +353 91 503101
Email: eolas@gaeltacht.ie
Web: http://www.udaras.ie

3.5 FÁS

FÁS (Foras Aiseanna Saothair) is the National Training and Employment Authority. It provides a range of training and employment services to jobseekers, community groups and employers. The principal services provided by FÁS are in training, employment and community and enterprise development.

FÁS
Training and Employment Authority (Ireland)
P.O. Box 456
27-33 Upper Baggot Street
Dublin 4
Ireland
Tel: + 353 1 6070500
Fax: + 3531 6070600
Email: info@fas.ie
Web: http://www.fas.ie

3.6 Bord Bía

The role of Bord Bía (Irish Food Board) is to act as a link between Irish food and drink suppliers and existing and potential customers. Its objective is to develop export markets for Irish food and drink companies and to bring the taste of Irish food to more tables worldwide.

Bord Bía
Clanwilliam Court
Lower Mount Street
Dublin 2
Ireland
Tel: + 353 1 668-5155
Fax: + 353 1 668-7521
E-mail: info@bordbia.ie
Web: http://www.bordbia.ie

3.7 BIM

BIM, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, is the Irish State Agency with responsibility for developing the Irish seafood industry. It works closely with fishermen, fish farmers, processors, marketers and the service sector to support the development of the industry from primary production stage through to marketing

BIM
P.O. Box 12
Crofton Road
Dun Laoghaire
Co. Dublin
Ireland
Tel:+353 1 2144100
Fax: +353 1 2841123
Email: info@bim.ie
Web: http://www.bim.ie

3.8 Forfás

Forfás is the National Policy and Advisory Board for Enterprise, Trade, Science, Technology & Innovation in Ireland. It is the body in which the State's legal powers for industrial promotion and technology development have been vested. It is also the body through which powers are delegated to Enterprise Ireland for the promotion of indigenous industry and to IDA Ireland for the promotion of inward investment.

Forfás
Wilton Park House,
Wilton Place
Dublin 2
Tel: +353 1 607 3000
Fax: +353 1 607 3030
Email: info@forfas.ie
Web: http://www.forfas.ie

3.9 City & County Enterprise Board

Enterprise Boards and contact details list

City and County Enterprise Boards (CEBs) are locally controlled enterprise development companies established in each county and larger urban local authority areas. Their function is to develop indigenous enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity at local level. This is achieved primarily by providing financial support, advice and training for the development of micro enterprise, generally defined as that in which less than 10 people are employed. Support is available to individuals, firms and community groups, to help develop projects with potential commercial viability.

3.10 Fáilte Ireland

Fáilte Ireland offers tourism professionals and service providers a wide range of support services at local, regional and national levels.

Fáilte Ireland works in partnership with Tourism Ireland (who promote Ireland as a holiday destination to overseas markets) and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (responsible for tourism development and marketing in Northern Ireland).

They also lead an extensive domestic holiday campaign via DiscoverIreland which features comprehensive information and listings for Irish accommodation, activities, events, tourist attractions and Irish holiday special offers.

Fáilte Ireland,
88 – 95 Amiens Street,
Ireland.
Lo-Call: 1890 525 525
Web: http://www.failteireland.ie/

4. IDA Ireland companies

4.1 How many IDA Ireland supported companies are presently operating in Ireland?

Over 1,000 IDA supported companies operating in Ireland, employ over 146,000 people (IDA Annual Report 2011).
These companies originate from worldwide locations, with a predominance of US and European investors.

*Includes permanent, part-time and temporary workers.
Source - Forfás Annual Employment Survey 2011
IDA Annual Report 2011

4.2 What sectors do these companies operate in?

Forfas Annual Employment Survey 2011
IDA Annual Report 2011

4.3 What IDA supported companies are currently operating in Ireland?

To search for a company, use our Companies Database

5. Working and living in Ireland5.1 How do I apply for a job with IDA Ireland?

Current vacancies are in IDA Careers

5.2 How do I apply for a job with an IDA assisted company?

All announcements made by IDA assisted companies are added to the Announcements.

This contains contact details for each company. IDA Ireland does not deal with any employment requests and the companies should be contacted directly.

5.3 Do I need a work permit/visa to work in Ireland?

For full details of the Work Permit Scheme in Ireland you should contact the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment at http://www.entemp.ie/labour/workpermits/

Information is also available on the Fás website - Know Before you Go section in several languages.

5.4 Where could I get general information about Ireland?

The task of the Department of Foreign Affairs is to promote and protect the interests of Ireland and its citizens abroad, and to pursue peace, partnership and reconciliation on the island of Ireland. They also supply general information about Ireland's people and our history, environment and culture. This link will bring you to the Information section of their website http://www.gov.ie/iveagh/