Vol. 532 No. 2
99 Mr. Perry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the initiatives she has to assist small business in the area of international marketing, e-business, regional networks and human resource development. [7194/01]
Government policy for the development of small to medium enterprises aims to address structural weaknesses across a range of areas including marketing, e-business, regional development and human resource development. Under the National Development Plan, 2002-2006, expenditure of £931 million is estimated in support of small to medium enterprises over the period of the plan.
The strategy underpinning investment in this area is aimed at addressing: limited export growth outside the UK market, continued reliance on many traditional products, proliferation of small scale operations, insufficient spending on human resources, insufficient investment in RTDI and an uneven spatial spread of industrial activity.
Implementation of policy, including the development of specific schemes, is a statutory function of Enterprise Ireland. I will arrange for the agency to forward the Deputy details of the range of schemes it is implementing to support these enterprises.
