Vol. 574 No. 1
511 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the study of the best way in which to support enterprise in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26404/03]
The terms of reference for the review of enterprise support in rural areas are as follows.
1. Identify and describe the availability of official support for enterprise, including tourism enterprise, in rural areas, that is, all areas excluding the greater Dublin area, the gateways and hubs as defined in the national spatial strategy and their areas of influence, and their structures of delivery.
2. Identify weaknesses or gaps, if any, in supports and/or their structures of delivery taking account of EU State aid law, the national spatial strategy and Exchequer financial constraints.
3. In regard to 2, identify the likely effects of and make recommendations on designating areas as the only ones where official assistance will be provided for establishing certain services and industries, where such sectoral targeting does not exist.
4. Arising from consideration of 2 and 3 above, recommend structures of delivery focusing on the sub-regional level, including the number and role of agencies needed to optimise enterprise, including tourism enterprise, development in rural areas, and avoid unnecessary duplication. For this purpose, regard should be had to the role and function of the following organisations: Leader companies, county enterprise boards, Enterprise Ireland, Western Development Commission, SFADCo, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Fáilte Ireland, regional tourism authorities and the amalgam of Bord Bia and Bord Glas.
5. In so far as issues are already addressed under the terms of reference for the major tourism policy review under way, they do not form part of these terms of reference.
I expect that the report of this review being undertaken by Fitzpatrick Associates, economic consultants will be completed by mid-December next.
