Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 16 September 2016
1865. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the grant scheme, if any, available to develop community enterprise centres and the application process in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24392/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraLast year, the Government announced details of the 5-year, €250million Regional Action Plan for Jobs, aimed at accelerating the jobs recovery in every part of the country. Under the Regional Plan, Enterprise Ireland launched a competitive call, the Community Enterprise Initiatives Fund, with a budget of €5 million over two years, which focused on community-driven enterprise initiatives and how all the local players, public and private, can work together to maximise job creation. The Fund was open to organisations or groups of organisations with innovative ideas to create jobs, promote entrepreneurship, boost innovation or enhance exports. Enterprise Ireland announced, on 1 June, the applicants that were offered funding for their proposals under the first call for the Community Enterprise Initiative Scheme.
I am determined to support the regions to help them to achieve their potential and ambition. In that regard, I would point out that Enterprise Ireland will issue a 2nd call under the Community Enterprise Initiative later this year. This new call will be open to those that may have been unsuccessful under the first call for proposals and also to new applicants. Enterprise Ireland will work with all applicants that apply for funding under the second call for proposals. This will again be a competitive fund, due to limited funding, and as such it may not be possible to award aid to all eligible projects.
I will engage closely with Enterprise Ireland to continue to roll out a series of new competitive regional funding initiatives that deliver on the potential of local and regional strengths; and promote collaboration among the various public and private interests to create new enterprises and jobs.
