Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is scope to build further on both of these schemes and we want to do so. As I stated to Deputy Calleary, we are reviewing the credit guarantee scheme to examine whether some of the terms should be improved. The roll-out of the local enterprise offices is very much designed to do more than promote micro-finance, for which they will be the primary interlocutors.

They are the first point of call. We also support other schemes through local enterprise offices, LEOs. It is never a question of us sitting back in the belief that we have cracked it. By no means have we. These are difficult issues.

More emphasis has been placed on procurement to try to get small to medium-sized enterprises working. We have worked to develop consortia of SMEs so that they might bid for contracts together. We have sought to reduce thresholds. As Deputy Calleary stated, unrealistic thresholds are being unbundled to allow better access for SMEs. We work with other Departments to ensure that SMEs have better involvement. A number of initiatives, such as in the case of water, have been unbundled in such a way as to be open to smaller players. Recently, there has been an examination of social clauses to ensure people who are out of work are prioritised in the allocation of contracts. This would favour local SMEs.

Senator Cullinane is right about industry and its multiplier. From an Irish point of view, the positive news is that the last three quarters saw an expansion in industrial employment of 3,000 per quarter compared with a long run of decline. One swallow does not make a summer, but there is an indication-----