Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the action he has taken or proposes to take to stimulate the economy with particular reference to small and medium sized enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45736/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The National Recovery Plan, which was published by the Government on 24th November, provides a blueprint for Ireland's return to sustainable economic growth. The Plan builds on previous Government initiatives such as Building Ireland's Smart Economy and the recent Strategy for Trade, Tourism and Investment . It identifies the areas of activity which will provide increased employment opportunities as Ireland's economic recovery takes place.

The Plan sets out a range of specific actions and supports designed to improve competitiveness across all sectors of the economy, including the SME sector. These include measures to cut costs to business, the removal of barriers to employment creation, and a range of sector-specific actions to increase exports and domestic demand.

Capital funding under the National Recovery Plan is being targeted to ensure that it is employment-focused. In this regard, funding for enterprise-support programmes operated by my Department's agencies has been given a priority. Enterprise Ireland will continue to invest in high potential start-ups and help companies to increase their exports to new and existing markets. Enterprise Ireland and the County and City Enterprise Boards will continue to work directly with SMEs to improve their performance, productivity and competitiveness. Support will also be provided to firms through Enterprise Ireland's Seed and Venture Capital programme and through the €500 million Innovation Fund. The Business Expansion Scheme for investment in companies will be overhauled and improved.

In order to encourage small business development, the potential for providing access to vacant or under-utilised public property for entrepreneurs or business start-ups to use as Incubation Centres will be investigated. There will be direct job creation during the delivery phase of public infrastructural investment. In this context, it is envisaged that the National Retrofit Programme will give rise to a considerable level of jobs in the construction sector on a nationwide basis. This will have a positive impact on small and medium sized enterprises. To further assist cash-flow for SMEs, the 15 day payment rule to suppliers will be extended beyond central Government Departments to the wider public sector.

The measures outlined above, along with other strategies outlined in the Recovery Plan, will build on the progress already made by the Government and will further improve cost competitiveness for all businesses, including SMEs, in the years ahead.