IDA Ireland Funding

The IDA funding process runs from early engagement through negotiation, formal offer, delivery and claims. For CFOs, the priority is to align IDA commitments with internal investment approvals and cash flow planning.

1. Initial engagement
   Early discussions on project scope, timelines, location and which supports may apply (capital, RD&I, employment, training).
2. Project definition and business case
   Build a clear plan for capex, headcount, skills and R&D content, supported by a credible financial model.
3. Negotiation and offer
   Agree eligible cost bases, milestones, funding levels and conditions, then receive a formal letter of offer and grant agreement.
4. Delivery, claims and oversight
   Deliver the investment and submit periodic claims with supporting evidence, alongside ongoing monitoring and potential audits.

IDA Ireland funding should be viewed in the context of global incentives, not as an isolated local arrangement. Many IDA client companies also access national and EU grants, R&D tax credits and IP regimes in multiple jurisdictions.

FI Group’s global practice helps CFOs to:

• Compare IDA Ireland funding with incentives in competing locations for new projects.
• Avoid double counting or conflicting positions on costs claimed under different regimes.
• Align project coding and documentation so that IDA, tax and grant audits reference the same underlying evidence set.
• Present a single, consolidated view of incentives by project, jurisdiction and year to Boards and investors.

The result is a funding and incentives strategy where Ireland’s IDA support is a known quantity in capital allocation, not a side discussion.

Produced by FI Group’s international incentives team, the guide brings together the insight of specialists working day to day with R&D tax incentives, innovation grants and IP boxes in multiple jurisdictions. It is written for senior finance and tax leaders who need a clear view of effective benefit rates, compliance risk and interactions with local accounting and Pillar Two.

Inside the guide you will find:

• Concise country profiles covering the main R&D tax incentives in each jurisdiction.
• Comparable data on incentive types, typical benefit levels and qualifying activities.
• Commentary on how R&D tax reliefs interact with grants, innovation loans and IP regimes.
• Red flag areas for CFOs, including audit trends, documentation expectations and common errors.
• Practical tips on coordinating incentives across subsidiaries to avoid double counting and missed value.

Use the International R&D Tax Incentives Guide as the starting point for your global incentives strategy.