Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I agree with the Deputy and I will work to obtain the audit which is under the remit of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs which initiated the idea. We are anxious to co-operate with it and it would be useful. Deputy Penrose is correct to state that property solutions and facilities are important. It is part of the jigsaw which brings investment to a location.

County councils have been involved in many of Enterprise Ireland's community enterprise programme centres through funding or providing the greenfield sites where the centres are built. They have become important centres of incubation. In places such as Mallow and Carlow, I notice county councils are working with local interests on how to turn the Greencore facilities into new economic opportunities.

Deputy Penrose is correct that we should create the facilities to enable the indigenous sector to obtain good quality facilities and business. This is critical and I impress it on county managers. Some are more proactive than others on this agenda. It makes a difference because indigenous companies are growing. People starting off in one location might need to expand and might need a newer facility.

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