Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

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 CEBs support micro-enterprises employing up to 10 people in the start-up and expansion phases and also promote economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level. The CEBs deliver a series of programmes to underpin their role and they can provide both financial and non-financial assistance to an eligible micro-enterprise. The micro-enterprise sector is a key component of the indigenous small business sector and I am confident that it will be key to our economic recovery.

I thank Deputy O'Dea for his words of acknowledgement on my appointment. With regard to the restructuring of the CEBs, there is no doubt but that the county enterprise board model has served the micro-enterprise sector very well over the years but there is also no doubt that some restructuring of that model is now required. There have been many changes to the social, economic and technological landscape of Ireland since the establishment of the boards in 1993 and it is timely to restructure. However, any restructuring must not compromise the State's engagement with and support for our important micro-enterprise sector and in particular must not make it more difficult for the end-user to access the support services available for the sector.

As Minister of State with responsibility for small business, I want to ensure that there is a coherent and cohesive delivery of State support to the indigenous business sector, based on clear enterprise policy principles laid down by the Department and to ensure that any structural or institutional changes do not compromise the State's support for indigenous businesses. There are a number of schools of thought on the best way forward on CEB restructuring. All options are being considered at this stage and I am engaging with officials and other Government colleagues in order to determine the best way forward.

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