Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)

I have made my points on the dangers of having the local authority involved, as it is a cost and regulation centre for small businesses. Therefore, there is a natural antipathy for small businesses. There is also a lack of culture within local authorities towards enterprise, and I agree with Deputy O'Dea's comment that there is very low morale within county enterprise boards throughout the State. Since the days of the former Minister, Batt O'Keeffe, the people in those organisations have not known, from one day to the next, what will happen to them. It is a limbo-like process for such an important tool.

Local control is very important. Will the Minister ensure the control, development and orientation in each county will not migrate to a regional status through Enterprise Ireland's control and that there will be an orientation towards the needs, knowledge and experience in the locality? There are a number of partnerships and Leader programmes throughout the State which also fund enterprise. There is sometimes at least a perception that there is an overlapping of activities, so does the Minister have plans in that regard?

The Minister mentioned standardisation and equality of training, which is very important. There is much work going on with the creation of SOLAS, and the VECs also provide training. There must be a system whereby standards can be equalised and raised, and there should be an understanding between VECs and SOLAS, etc.

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