Written Answers Nos. 95-98
95. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the proposed future use of the Enterprise Ireland site on Griffith Avenue Extension, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3601/13]
View answerEnterprise Ireland transferred the greater part of the site in question to Dublin City University (DCU) who will develop the site into an internationally-recognised “Innovation Campus”, involving a partnership of education and research institutions, enterprise and the semi-state sector.
I was pleased to officially open the DCU Innovation Campus on Monday last, 21 January 2013. This initiative will provide a new national centre for innovation in the Cleantech sector, one of the fastest growing areas of economic activity and worth more than €5 trillion globally. The new campus, which will be a location of choice for Cleantech start-ups, SMEs and larger companies, is expected to drive significant green economy growth in the North Dublin and Leinster area, supporting 200 jobs over the initial 18 months. The initiative is a great example of using scarce State resources in smart ways to drive job creation, and provides a model of what we must do across Government if we are to create the jobs we need.
The remaining part of the site, comprising approximately two acres, was assigned to the Department of Education and Science, which plans to build an “Educate Together” national school to serve the local area. This is another excellent example of how the State is maximising its limited resources to facilitate the provision of important public services.
96. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he or his officials met any representatives of the tobacco industry in the last six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3623/13]
View answerThe only meeting that took place with representatives of the tobacco industry in the last six months was with officials from the Intellectual Property Unit of my Department, who met with Mr. Brian Dunphy, Regulatory Affairs Advisor, Japan Tobacco International Ireland Ltd. on 11 September, 2012.
97. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will examine the potential of social economy projects that could create sustainable jobs in local areas, for example, within women's community projects; if resources will be made available to local community and voluntary agencies to stimulate and support this objective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3633/13]
View answerProjects in the social economy cover a range of community, voluntary and not-for-profit activities. The Programme for Government recognised the importance of the social enterprise sector, in particular, to local economies. It states that: “The Government will promote the development of a vibrant and effective social enterprise sector. We will instruct agencies to view social enterprises as important stakeholders in rejuvenating local economies. We will continue support for social innovation projects for young people through education, community and voluntary structures.”
To progress this commitment, the 2012 Action Plan for Jobs (Action 6.7) included an undertaking to conduct a report on the potential of social enterprises to create jobs. Forfás were tasked with progressing this action, in consultation with the relevant Government Departments and other key stakeholders.
My officials are currently reviewing the findings and recommendations of the report which has recently been furnished to my Department by Forfás.
98. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if a national written policy for small and micro-enterprise development will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3634/13]
View answerSince 1993, Government policy and supports for enterprises employing fewer than 10 people have been mainly implemented through the City and County Enterprise Boards. Policy has evolved over the years, as articulated in various Operating Agreements between the Minister and the CEBs, as well as through the County Enterprise Plans under the Local and Micro-Enterprise Development Priorities of relevant EU co-funded Operational Programmes.
As recently as January 2010, in response to the needs of micro-enterprises, a revised suite of supports was developed to provide the CEBs with greater flexibility in assisting these small businesses in the face of the economic downturn. The new supports were also a first step towards aligning the CEB supports more closely with those of Enterprise Ireland and to improve the flow of clients between the CEBs and EI. While the fundamental requirements in relation to eligibility of projects for assistance remained focused on manufacturing and internationally traded services, a broader range of business costs became eligible for support.
Since coming into office, this Government has demonstrated our determination to fundamentally address the challenge of supporting micro and small businesses. For example, we have introduced the Microenterprise loan fund and the Credit Guarantee Scheme. We are currently in the process of reforming the national micro and small business support infrastructure by dissolving the City and County Enterprise Boards and establishing new Local Enterprise Offices that will operate from within Local Authorities, but with clear oversight by Enterprise Ireland. To this end, a new Microenterprise Division has been established within EI and this will become the national Centre of Excellence for supporting micro and small businesses, benchmarked to international standards.
This fundamental reform offers the opportunity to revisit and refocus national policy in relation to the micro and small business sector with a view to ensuring that the state supports are properly targeted at that sector and that the LEOs become a “First Stop Shop” for micro and small businesses for the range of supports available across the system.
The LEOs will engage will all local businesses and will offer a range of soft supports to those that are locally trading with a viable business proposition, including help with applying for a Microfinance loan. They will also be well positioned to assist in the early identification of start-ups with the best potential to move into the Enterprise Ireland portfolio. In this respect, the Service Level Agreements between Enterprise Ireland and Local Authorities, that will underpin the new Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), will include appropriate policy guidelines within which LEOs will operate in delivering enterprise supports.
Last November, along with Minister for Small Business Mr John Perry, I launched a public consultation process to inform this transformational agenda. The consultation was extended to 18 January given the level of interest expressed by key stakeholders.
Due to the huge response to the consultation it will take some time to review and distil the submissions, which will help shape the policy and operational scope of the new LEOs. All submissions received will be published on my Department’s website in due course.
