John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)

As Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation one of my main priorities is to ensure that the manner in which State support for enterprise activity, entrepreneurship stimulation and job creation is delivered, properly targeted, effective and coherent. I want to ensure it is cost effective and that the resources available to the State are used to maximise business activity and sustainability across all sectors to drive economic recovery.

The county and city enterprise boards, CEBs, have been the principal deliverers of State support to the micro-enterprise sector since their establishment in 1993. The role of CEBs is to support micro-enterprises employing up to ten people in the start-up and expansion phases and to stimulate and promote economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level. The CEBs deliver a series of programmes to underpin this role and can provide financial and non-financial assistance to an eligible micro-enterprise. This sector is a key component of the indigenous small business sector. It was to the forefront of Ireland's past economic success and will be key to our economic recovery.

Parallel to the work of the CEBs is the work of Enterprise Ireland. Its remit includes the support of start-ups that have the potential to employ more than ten people and achieve €1 million in turnover. These are start-ups that are typically highly innovative and are in a position to sell globally from their earliest stage. Apart from these enterprise development agencies who report directly to my Department, there are other State bodies and organisations working with the Minister, Deputy Bruton, providing a range of enterprise type supports which serve other niche elements of the community.

Each of these organisations has a distinct client base. The programme for Government recognises that there is a multiplicity of enterprise and job support functions being carried out by local, regional and national agencies. The programme also recognises the need to streamline such functions and increase shared knowledge capability and resources while saving on administration costs.

A critical focus in achieving any such streamlining is to ensure that we do not compromise on service delivery to the end user. While unnecessary overlap or duplication between these agencies and organisations must be eliminated, as Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, it is my priority to ensure that above all else there is a coherent and cohesive delivery of State support to the indigenous business sector based on clear enterprise policy principles laid down by my Department.

In regard to CEBs, their current structure is in need of review and reform for several reasons including the fact that they currently comprise 35 separate legal entities, significantly increasing the administrative overhead of the service. Nevertheless, I reiterate that any changes to the CEB structure must not compromise the State's engagement with and support for important micro companies. I am engaging with my officials and other Government colleagues to determine the best way forward and will shortly bring my proposals to Government on the CEB structure. I thank the Minister for his comments.

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