I would refer the Deputies to my replies to parliamentary questions on February 18 and March 31 1993 in connection with county enterprise partnership boards and regional tourism organisations.
As the Deputies will be aware I have asked my Department to undertake a fundamental review of the original proposals to establish county enterprise partnership boards. That review process involves consultations with the social partners and local bodies together with a wide variety of other relevant interests. I have also been keeping Government colleagues informed as to progress. While the review has yet to be finalised and approved, the Government has nevertheless decided to establish enterprise boards on a county basis which would have effective local representation and a non-bureaucratic administrative structure. By establishing the boards on a county basis I am striking a balance between the need for scale on the one hand and the need to retain a local element. The boards must not be remote from the communities which they represent. There will be special arrangements for the Dublin region and other large urban centres. The boards will work in harmony with existing State agencies and will not, as far as is possible, displace or duplicate the existing local enterprise initiatives, including regional tourism organisations. Certain operational details for the boards, including their composition and staffing, are nearing finalisation and the boards should be operational in the latter half of 1993.
The allocation of funds as between boards and the criteria for disbursal of these funds by the boards will be determined by a national enterprise council in consultation with my Department. Membership of the council will reflect a similar balance to that at county level. As is the case with the boards, operational details, including composition and staffing of the council, are still under consideration and have yet to be finalised by Government. I hope to be in a position to make a fuller statement on all of these matters in the near future.