Vol. 473 No. 5
159 Mr. Gallagher (Donegal South West) asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if he is satisfied with the number of European business information centres operating in Ireland; the steps, if any, he will take to increase the number of these centres in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1892/97]
European business information centres (Euro-Info-Centres) are provided for under the multinational programme for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union. Their primary purpose is to make community information available to SMEs. Within the context of the third Multiannual Programme for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (1997-2000), agreed during the Irish Presidency, it is proposed to develop Euro-Info-Centres as "first-stop-shops" for Community information and improve the quality of services which they provide to SMEs throughout the European Union.
There are six Euro-Info-Centres operating in Ireland. These are located in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Sligo and Waterford. Each centre is established on the premises of a "parent" organisation. The six Irish EICs are located within the Cork, Galway, Sligo and Waterford Chambers of Commerce, Shannon Development in Limerick and the Irish Trade Board in Dublin. The operational costs of each EIC are funded by the European Commission and the "parent" organisation.
When analysed on the basis of the number of enterprises or the general population of each member state, it is clear that Ireland, in the interests of geographical cohesion within the Eurpean Union, has been allocated proportionately more EICs than larger member states of the Union. In fact, Ireland has secured over double the number of EICs which the proportion of enterprises in Ireland would dicate.
It is not envisaged that there will be an opportunity to further increase the number of EICs in Ireland in the near future. Should such an opportunity arise, I will make every effort to ensure that the maximum possible number of EICs are located in Ireland.
