Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to raise this very important issue. When the county enterprise boards were first set up, I happened to be a member of the local authority in south Tipperary and was nominated to the county enterprise board. I saw at first hand, in very difficult times, the role the board could play within the community. I know people who started industries which are now employing 150 people, with one in particular that came to the county enterprise board for a feasibility study. That young man was unemployed but now has 150 people in one of his several companies.

The county enterprise role is a very good model to support the many unemployed people and those losing their jobs right across the country. There are 400,000 to 500,000 people out of work nationally and in our constituency in Tipperary South there are 954 people on the live register in Cahir, 1,600 in Carrick-on-Suir, 1,900 in Clonmel, 818 in Cashel and 1,252 in Tipperary Town. The numbers will increase in these areas because of the effect of Dell in Limerick announcing the shedding of many jobs. That will have an impact in our part of the country.

I remember when county enterprise boards were first set up. They did really imaginative work to help many people with various skills to initiate businesses. Many people need help, whether it is with accounts, available grants or rules, laws and regulations. Such skilled people have ideas and can set up and run a company. There is a real role for the county enterprise boards, using FÁS, to act as the catalyst in helping people with banking or accounting skills, for example. The number might not be substantial but there is real potential in these people. Services are required and there is significant opportunity there.

This must be done in co-operation with FÁS and if that body could be tied in with the process, it would be a great way of helping people establish their own businesses. This could happen in the food area, as I come from a county that is rich in its food products. There is a need to expand concepts such as market garden farming and the country markets, which are increasing in number around the country. There is also the tourist element. The potential of the county enterprise boards is significant.

I ask the Minister to implement this as a policy to help people who are unemployed but who want to stay in this country and have an idea which could be brought to fruition. Regardless of the help these people require, it could be a very cost-effective process. The structures exist and the models are in every county. With a bit of co-ordination and support, we could do a great job in helping people in these dire times. People are frightened but they want to help the economy and get up on their own. They want to rear their families themselves rather than come to the Government looking for something. This would give such people a start.

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