Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)

One of the problems is the timescales. In March 2011, the European progress microfinance facility became available. Since then, at least 2,000 companies have become insolvent, never mind the number of sole traders. Yet, we still do not have a start date for this programme. There is also the issue of accountability. The Taoiseach himself said he would hold Ministers to account yet we have the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government floundering from one crisis to another.

With regard to industry-led clustering, as has been said by other Deputies, there has been an uneven delivery of enterprise across the State both geographically and socio-economically. What principles will the Minister use with industry-led clustering to ensure better geographical and socio-economic distribution? How will he ensure disadvantaged areas get the businesses and the jobs to which they are entitled?

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