AN initiative which aims to create 5,000 jobs within five years by attracting small and medium-sized companies to Ireland was unveiled yesterday by the Government.
“Succeed in Ireland” will target international companies and business people who would otherwise not have been reached by State agencies, by building on relationships between Irish people and contacts abroad.
Under the initiative, any person who successfully introduces a company to Ireland that creates jobs will be paid a minimum of €1,500 per job, up to a maximum of 100 jobs. The reward is payable in two stages – 50 per cent will be paid one year after the job is created, and 50 per cent after two years.
Any member of the public can participate in the scheme.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny said Succeed in Ireland would complement the work of the IDA, which focuses on larger, multinational companies.
He said the initiative was part of the Government’s drive to build on Ireland’s diaspora as a resource.
The scheme is being run by ConnectIreland.com, a company set up by entrepreneur Terry Clune, the founder of taxback.com, who has invested €5 million in the project. The company will be paid €1,0000-€2,500 by the State, for each job created, payable two years on.
The appointment of ConnectIreland.comfollows a seven-month procurement process by the IDA.
ConnectIreland.comis funding the operational costs of the programme, including over 30 full-time staff, office overheads and promotions worldwide. The staff, to be based in Kilkenny, will also tap into taxback.com's network of offices in 22 countries.
Chairman Terry Clune said ConnectIreland's funding model was similar to taxback.com's, whereby the company only receives a fee when the service is delivered.
The IDA will oversee the initiative, and ConnectIreland will liaise with the agency to avoid any overlap in companies targeted.
IDA chief executive Barry O’Leary said the scheme would be cash-neutral for the State, pointing out the average annual cost to the State of one unemployed person is €18,000. In addition, the State will accrue taxation on the new employment, through income tax, PRSI and other taxes.
The initiative was one of a number of strategies outlined in the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs launched last month, with the aim of creating 100,000 jobs over four years.
It is hoped 5,000 jobs will be created by Succeed in Ireland over a five-year period.
People who identify a suitable company can log on to ConnectIreland. Following assessment and a commitment to invest, the person will be confirmed as the approved connector to that company.
