Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

In line with the commitment given in the Agreed Programme for Government, and on foot of the cohesion process recently completed by my Department, there is now one integrated local development company in any given area of the country and fewer local development companies overall. These new, more coherent delivery arrangements provide full county coverage and enable rural businesses and community groups to readily access services, including information and advice, and to make maximum use of the funding available for rural development.

The Deputy will be aware that the Leader element of the new rural development programme includes particular measures in support of business creation and development. There is specific funding provided to foster awareness of and animate the programme and this supports rural community groups and enterprises in taking advantage of the opportunities under the programme. This major funding programme, which is now being rolled out across the country, will also be implemented by the new integrated companies.

Information is available to prospective businesses wishing to start up in Gaeltacht regions from Údarás na Gaeltachta, a body that comes under the ambit of my Department. In addition, Údarás provides information and advice to assist community groups and co-operatives to set up local enterprise projects and put together community development plans.

Under my Department's enterprise fund for non-Gaeltacht islands, assistance is made available to entrepreneurs wishing to establish new or expand existing enterprises on the islands outside the Gaeltacht. The scheme is administered locally by the relevant county enterprise boards, from whom information and advice is readily available to the communities concerned. An integrated company, which is dedicated exclusively to the islands, has also been set up, in fulfilment of a further programme for Government commitment.

See this speech in context