Vol. 529 No. 4
113 Mr. Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will consider introducing a scheme of grant aid to facilitate the relocation of small industries which by virtue of their nature and expansion are now inappropriately located in residential urban settings; her views on whether such grant aid should be revenue neutral for the companies involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3260/01]
The Government supports the development of the indigenous sector by providing a wide range of financial supports to help companies develop a sustainable competitive advantage leading to profitable sales, exports and employment. These supports, which are administered by Enterprise Ireland, include employment, marketing, technology research and development, fixed asset, business and training grants and the provision of equity finance. All supports provided by the agency must comply with State aids rules.
Enterprise Ireland's approach to the development of the indigenous sector focuses on identifying the business needs and challenges facing its client companies in the competitive global market. It provides a streamlined and flexible response to those needs and challenges by offering support and advice on a basis which relates directly to the key strategic business functions of firms, that is, strategy assessment and formulation; research, development and design; production and operations; marketing; human resources and finance.
Yesterday I launched a new Enterprise Ireland initiative to support regional development by indigenous firms. That initiative will aim to assist indigenous firms in regional locations to develop and grow through exports and by increasing their competitiveness. It will aim to increase the number of high potential start-ups in regional locations and it targets increasing the number of firms from Dublin who will locate their expansions in the regions. The agency now has a target to get 30 expansions by Dublin-based firms into the regions in the period 2001-03. That figure compares with five such expansions into the regions in the previous three years.
Enterprise Ireland's approach involves a stepped approach to company development which includes a detailed analysis of a company's requirements against specific goals, determining the level and need for state support, and targeting funds towards providing solutions to the real needs of client companies rather than the administration of many and diverse programmes. As Enterprise Ireland's approach is focused on meeting the needs of companies as identified by them I have no plans to introduce a new scheme to facilitate relocations.
