Liam Hyland
Question:78 Mr. Hyland asked the Taoiseach if he will consider including County Laois in the partnership areas for the purpose of assisting persons starting their own business. [1005/96]
Written Answers. - Partnership Areas.
Sub-Programme 1 of the Operational Programme for Local Urban and Rural Development, 1994-1999 — Local Enterprise, deals specifically with enterprise creation and is the responsibility of the Department of Enterprise and Employment. Its prime objective is to provide a basic support system for micro/small enterprises to increase the start up rate of these enterprises, improve their survival rate and to support viable existing firms to survive and expand. The Laois County Enterprise Board administers this Sub-Programme for all of County Laois. From 1993 when the Board was created, to the end of 1995, 987 grants were approved by the Laois County Enterprise Board with a total of £551,000 being paid out.
The partnership areas designed under Sub-Programme 2 of the Operational Programme were selected by the Government on the basis of objective indicators of disadvantage, feasible operational boundaries and viability in terms of size and economic base. Based on these criteria, County Laois was not one of the areas selected and it is not proposed to relax the criteria for selection.
Sub-Programme 2 of the Operational Programme — Integrated Development of Designated Disadvantaged and Other Areas, is managed on behalf of the Government and the European Commission by an independent intermediary company Area Development Management Ltd., (ADM). While this Sub-Programme has specific provisions for designated disadvantaged areas — and it is accepted that degrees of disadvantage and unemployment exist in all areas — designated Partnership Areas are just one of the categories eligible for funding. The others are communities in other areas and organisations representing or working on behalf of travellers and selected organisations with the capacity to make a contribution to the achievement of the sub-programme's objectives. These can be assisted in the same way as Partnerships if they meet the given criteria. The intention is to enable as many communities as possible to have access to the opportunities available under the Sub-Programme. In County Laois, two community organisations have been granted technical assistance of £10,000 each to enable them to draw up area action plans for ADM's appraisal, which could lead to substantial funding for them.
Furthermore, Sub-Programme 3 of the Operational Programme — Urban and Village Renewal, which is the responsibility of the Department of the Environment and is implemented through Local Authorities, has also benefited County Laois. It includes a range of measures designed to rejuvenate the social and economic life of inner urban core areas and villages, improve the built environment and restore and conserve elements of the architectural heritage. In 1995, funding in County Laois under this Sub-Programme came to £185,000.