Robert Molloy
Ceist:22 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the proposals, if any, he has to put the county enterprise boards on a statutory footing; and if he will publish a review of their operations to date. [10980/95]
Written Answers. - County Enterprise Boards.
Legislation is at present being drafted to provide a statutory underpinning for the operation of the city and county enterprise boards. The need for legislation arises from the fact that I have been advised that in the absence of legislation I am not empowered to permit the county enterprise boards to issue loans from the public funds made available to them through my Department.
The legislation will confirm the role of the Minister for Enterprise and Employment as the vehicle through which Exchequer funding is provided to the Boards to enable them to perform their enterprise support functions. I have arranged for the necessary enabling provisions to be incorporated in an industrial development Bill which will be brought forward at the earliest opportunity.
A number of the county enterprise boards have compiled and published reports on their first 12 months in operation. A regular newsletter has also been published as part of an innovatory actions project involving the county enterprise boards and assisted by the European Social Fund. The newsletter provides a platform for exchanging information on good practice and for providing up to date information on the progress of the initiative. I propose to review the scope for improved publicity arrangements at national level regarding the operations of county enterprise boards in the context of the technical assistance available for this purpose under the Operational Programme for Local Urban and Rural Development.
Helen Keogh
Ceist:23 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the county enterprise boards have now reached the expenditure limit imposed on them for capital grants to microfirm applicants and are now unable to pay eligible applicants' grants; the position in respect of each board in relation to the capital grant limit allowed and whether they have reached that limit at this time; if the limit is to be raised; and, if so, the amount in respect of each board. [10979/95]
John Ellis
Ceist:55 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the amount of money he intends to allocate in 1995 to each county enterprise board; and if he will fulfil his earlier commitment to make available a minimum of £500,000 to each board. [11078/95]
John Ellis
Ceist:57 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the amount of funding which will be made available to each county enterprise board for 1995. [11080/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 55 and 57 together.
Payment to project promoters of grant commitments entered into by county enterprise boards and approved by my Department will be made, in full or in part, on the basis of invoiced eligible expenditure vouched as paid.
Having regard to the need for a balanced programme of grant approval activity to be undertaken by boards throughout the course of the year, I initially indicated the application of a maximum grant approval capacity of £200,000 per board for the early months of 1995.
I have recently written to the chairpersons of the county enterprise boards conveying approval for a maximum enterprise support capacity of £500,000 for each board for 1995 to enable them to fund a wide range of activity, including financial assistance in the form of capital grants, in respect of the four specific measures under the Local Enterprise Sub-Programme of the Operational Programme for Local Urban and Rural Development, viz: (a) promoting an enterprise culture, (b) business information, advice, counselling and mentoring, (c) financial assistance, and (d) management development. No board has reached the new limit at this time. A separate administrative budget of £120,000 has been allocated to each board in the current year.