Grant aid:IDA Ireland's budgets for allocating grant aid to industry and for building operations next year have been left unchanged on 2007 levels, according to estimates for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment included in the Pre-Budget Outlook.
The IDA's budget for grant aid to industry remains the same at €95.1 million, while the allocation for buildings is unchanged at €3.4 million for 2008. By contrast, Enterprise Ireland's budget for industry grants rose by 5 per cent to €56.7 million. Its allocation for capital expenditure is unchanged at €3.4 million.
The Shannon Free Airport Development Company has had its grant aid budget left unchanged at €3 million for 2008.
Funds for Fás's capital investment have been halved to €12.5 million, while its budget for employment programmes is to rise by 1 per cent to €419 million.
The allocation for employment rights and industrial relations has been increased by 21 per cent to €11.1 million. The Labour Relations Commission's budget has been increased by 8 per cent to €6.7 million, but grants for trade union education and advisory services were cut by 20 per cent to €1.5 million.
The budgets increased at some consumer-focused bodies. The National Consumer Agency was allocated €10.4 million, up 24 per cent. The Competition Authority got €6.3 million, a 3 per cent rise, with the combined budgets of the Companies Registration Office and the Registry of Friendly Societies up to €10.4 million.
