Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Feb 1995

Vol. 449 No. 1

Written Answers. - County Enterprise Boards.

Ned O'Keeffe

Question:

195 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the liaison element between county enterprise boards and the Industrial Development Authority and other State bodies; and his views on whether there are elements of duplication. [3253/95]

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. R. Bruton)

County enterprise boards were established to develop indigenous potential and stimulate economic activity at local level, primarily through the provision of financial and technical support for the development of small enterprises.

Prior to their establishment no comprehensive locally based decision-making mechanism had existed for State supports to small and micro business. Most enterprise supports were restricted to those provided by the IDA, SFADCo, ABT etc. with decision making focused at regional and national level and assistance restricted to manufacturing and internationally traded services.

Under the provisions of the operational programme for local, urban and rural development, county enterprise boards will complement the work of existing State agencies and will not displace or duplicate local enterprise initiatives. Their role will be to facilitate local development and to act as catalysts where no enterprise group is currently active at community level. The county enterprise plans will help to align the range of official commitments which can directly impact upon small enterprise creation at local, sub-county and county level. In this way the boards will provide a framework for local initiatives and complement the regional and county level services of State agencies such as FÁS, Teagasc, Forbairt, CERT, Údarás na Gaeltachta, SFADCo and the regional tourism organisations.

Liaison arrangements have been established through formal structural arrangements and through the good working relationship which have developed between county enterprise boards and Forbairt at regional level. Senior Forbairt representatives are directly involved as members of the relevant county enterprise boards and Forbairt small business projects staff participate actively in the work of the evaluation committees of county enterprise boards.

While these arrangements provide the basis for co-operation and co-ordination of the efforts of Forbairt and the county enterprise boards, my Department in conjunction with the interdepartmental committee on local development will be monitoring the position on an ongoing basis to ensure the adequacy of arrangements in place and access the need for any new arrangements, if necessary.