Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 October 2007
350 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has satisfied himself with the composition and operation of the county and city enterprise boards; his views on whether they represent value for money for the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25338/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe thirty-five County & City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) are the principal initial point of contact for people seeking support in setting up a new business. Their role is to provide support to micro-enterprise in the start-up and expansion phases, to promote and develop indigenous micro-enterprise potential and to stimulate entrepreneurship at local level. They can provide both financial and non-financial assistance.
Since their inception in 1993 the CEBs have played an extremely important role in the overall development of indigenous enterprise in Ireland. They successfully developed a structure capable of both generating, and tapping into, enterprise at local level and have been particularly effective in their ability to respond to the needs of micro-enterprise at local level.
Through the provision of direct financial assistance over 32,000 jobs have been created in CEB assisted companies up to the end of 2006 while almost 19,000 projects were in receipt of assistance up to the end of 2006. Of equal importance however is the provision of non-financial assistance by the CEBs. The CEBs provide a wide range of business information and training initiatives. These include Start-Your-Own-Business Programmes, Management Capability and Development courses, Sales and Marketing courses as well as one-to-one Mentoring Programme. The range and quality of these ‘soft supports' is highly valuable to any potential entrepreneur. Almost 20,000 people participated on CEB training Programmes in 2006 alone. I expect a similar strong performance in 2007.
The Board of a County Enterprise Board is highly representative of the local Community it serves. Board members are drawn from the local County Council (including the County Manager or his representative), local business organisations as well other State Agencies with an economic development remit and the Social Partners. I am satisfied that the current composition and operation of the CEBs is appropriate to their remit and in view of their success since their inception in 1993 I am of the view that they represent value for money for the taxpayer.
I should point out that a fundamental review of the role of the CEBs in the development of micro-enterprises in Ireland was conducted during 2004. This review was the most comprehensive examination of the CEBs since their inception. It largely endorsed the activities and operations of the CEBs and concluded that there is justification for continued state support to micro-enterprises and that the CEB network can continue to play a useful role in the overall national enterprise development policy. Their role in embedding an entrepreneurial culture in Ireland has been further acknowledged in both the Enterprise Strategy Group Report and the more recent Report of the Small Business Forum.
