Seán Haughey
Question:121 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the schemes, if any, which are currently in operation to encourage small firms to employ extra people; and if a review of these schemes is proposed.
Written Answers. - Employment Schemes.
The IDA and Shannon Development operate a range of schemes aimed at small firms in the manufacturing and international services areas. For the majority of small firms, IDA/Shannon Development assistance is provided mainly in the form of employment grants. These grants are directly related and conditional on new jobs being created. Assistance is also provided, where appropriate, towards the development of management skills. For those firms with significant growth potential more extensive support — including advisory support, capital grants and assistance towards new product development — is available.
Also, FÁS operates an employment subsidy scheme. This scheme — the employment incentive scheme — applies to profit making and non profit making enterprises in all sectors with the exception of the public sector, banking, insurance, building societies and similar financial institutions. The scheme is aimed at encouraging the recruitment of long term unemployed persons, early school leavers and other disadvantaged persons. Subject to the conditions of the scheme a subsidy of £60 and £45 per week, depending on the category of the employee recruited, is paid for 39 weeks.
These schemes, as with all other schemes, are kept under review so as to ensure that they remain relevant and contribute to the objectives for which they were developed.
I have also initiated a review of the objectives, strategy, establishing procedures, etc. for county enterprise boards as originally envisaged in the light of the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to encourage local initiatives including small business development. It is clear that, in establishing the enterprise boards, there is a need to avoid duplication and disruption where effective structures and lines of communication already exist within a region.