asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy the estimated cost of the IDA's Enterprise Development Programme during the next two years; and the projected number of new jobs which will result from such expenditure.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - IDA Enterprise Development Programme.
36.
The IDA's enterprise Development Programme was launched on 11 January 1978. Experience in that short time is not adequate as a basis for an estimate of the cost of the programme over the next two years or the number of jobs that will result from projects approved under the programme.
I read a couple of weeks ago that in the first week or ten days after the launching of the scheme 350 enquiries were received. Could the Minister give us a more recent figure?
I understand it is in the region of 500 but it is changing every day. We are delighted to see that this experimental project is working out so well. I could not give an exact figure because every morning's post brings in more applications.
Everyone on this side of the House thinks it is an excellent scheme. Have any of these applications been processed to conclusion yet?
I can give some information on that. If the projects materialise and if the current level of interest from suitable persons is maintained, the IDA estimate that eight or ten projects involving 300 to 450 jobs will result in 1978.
37.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if the recently announced IDA Enterprise Development Programme to encourage potential entrepreneurs to leave their present employment may involve the retention and payment of such individuals by the IDA on a consultancy basis; and the amount of public money set aside for such consultancy payments.
Under the IDA's Enterprise Development Programme a prospective first-time entrepreneur may be employed in a consultancy capacity by the authority while completing the research and planning necessary to bring the project to an early start-up.
It is expected that this type of arrangement will be necessary in a small number of cases only and that the expenditure involved will not be significant.
At what stage do we stop spoon feeding private enterprise?