Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Jan 1996

Vol. 460 No. 3

Written Answers. - County Enterprise Boards.

Pat the Cope Gallagher

Question:

525 Mr. Gallagher (Donegal South West) asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if he has satisfied himself with the current level of funding for the enterprise boards in Ireland; his views on whether the enterprise boards will continue to play a key role in local development into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1416/96]

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

The 1996 Estimates for my Department provide £19.736 million to cover the running costs of the county enterprise boards. In total, almost £18.5 million has been provided in grants by the 35 CEBs since their establishment, resulting in the creation of over 4,000 full-time and 850 part-time jobs. An additional sum of £1.389 million was provided to boards in 1995 to facilitate their soft support activities.

I am satisfied that the funding currently being provided to the boards will enable them to achieve the broad targets set for this initiative in the Operational Programme for Local Urban and Rural Development, LDP 1994-99, under which the boards are supported by EU funding. Indeed, on the basis of their performance to date, I am confident that the targets originally set for the duration of the operational programme will be exceeded.

In 1995, the county enterprise boards extended their range of activities beyond direct grant-giving to include the provision of advice, information, counselling, and management development training. The CEBs will continue to play a key role in promoting small business growth at local level and may be expected to expand that role as they deepen their co-operation with other local actors and with State agencies in the delivery of a comprehensive range of support services in every area throughout the country.