John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)

The restructuring of the boards is long overdue, but they have operated successfully as a one-stop-shop facility. As Deputy Bruton stated, we are looking at options that will ensure there will be a facility available for people who are setting up small companies in the innovation, research and development area or in the micro-enterprise area and the boards will certainly fund seed capital for larger companies. I assure the Deputy that whatever the final decision taken on the restructuring, it will enhance the situation. We have 35 enterprise boards to date, without duplication. They do outstanding work and have been very successful with limited resources. The backbone of this economy is small companies. It is about encouraging enterprise by providing a one-stop-shop facility that will clearly preserve the ethos of the enterprise boards. I acknowledge the critical role of the enterprise boards to date. Some very successful companies in the State have started with the support of the enterprise boards and that certainly will not be lost in the restructuring. As the Minister, Deputy Bruton, stated, it will encompass the best expertise and facilitation and will cut down on red tape with less duplication to ensure a person with an idea can go to a single location, an instant solution centre, that will satisfy his or her requirements in terms of initial seed capital, working capital or whatever the case may be to encourage that person to set up a company. Our job will be ensuring that facility will be in place.

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