Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 23 Mar 2000

Vol. 516 No. 5

Written Answers. - County Enterprise Boards.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

107 Mr. Callely asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on the success of the county enterprise boards; the issues brought to her attention which are causing difficulties for the boards or clients wishing to avail of the boards services or support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7751/00]

Jack Wall

Ceist:

132 Mr. Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will review the work of the county and city enterprise boards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8041/00]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Treacy)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 132 together.

The city and county enterprise boards have supported micro-enterprises, ten employees or less, which have created 20,045 jobs during the six years 1994-9. This compares with an original target of 8,000 jobs in the EU funded Operational Programme for Local Urban and Rural Development, 1994-9.

Because many of these jobs are in locally provided services, and thereby vulnerable to a downturn in the economy, the external evaluator to the operational programme has been commissioned to establish the long-term sustainability of the jobs and businesses supported by the boards. The findings of the evaluator will be available later this year.

The National Development Plan 2000-2006, published in November 1999, indicated that there will be a progressive shift by the boards from the provision of direct financial assistance to softer forms of support such as advice, mentoring and management development and increasing recourse to refundable aid. This change in direction is designed to enable the boards to respond in a more effective and targeted manner to the circumstances and needs of micro-enterprises in the increasingly competitive business environment.