Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Oct 1994

Vol. 446 No. 4

Written Answers. - SME Community Initiative.

Paul Bradford

Question:

26 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment whether proposals to be implemented under the SME Community Initiative sponsored by the EU will be drawn up in consultation with organisations representing small businesses, additional to existing programmes and open to businesses in both the manufacturing and service sectors. [1904/94]

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. Quinn)

The SME Community Initiative offers a small fund of £22.9 million to Ireland over five years to fund developmental activity which complements mainline programmes. The broad agenda for this small fund is set by agreement between the Commission and the member state concerned.

A programme for small business and services responding to some of the recommendations of the Task Force on Small Business and the Task Force on Jobs in Services is being negotiated at present with the Commission. To that degree, the programme reflects the detailed consultation with small business organisations during the tenure of the task forces. This consultation now continues on a broad front with my Department's newly created Small Business and Services Division.

New activity under this fund must, by definition, be additional to existing programmes and it is proposed to cover both manufacturing business and services sectors in the actions envisaged under the Small Business Operational Programme.