John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Much work has been done and the role of county enterprise boards is still very effective. I attended the national ploughing championships last week and I noted a certain number of start-up businesses getting on with their enterprise. There have been closures but there are also some very high-potential start-up businesses. There has been an establishment of the first-time exports division and the microfinance fund will be rolled out through county and city enterprise boards. This is about the evaluation and management of enterprise in every sense and potential in the market.

It is important to note that the new interim milestones relate to the determination of local enterprise offices and accommodation plans; this is taken with enterprise officers on the ground, the centralisation of services and roll-out of services for small companies. The backbone of the economy is made up of small enterprises, and these take in manufacturing as well as high-potential start-up companies. All these are doing exceptionally well. I have been all over the country meeting the people in all these companies. Enterprise Ireland has a very focused working plan and this was not a simple shift from county and city enterprise boards. The working group has formulated a strong level service agreement that will establish a one-stop shop for business.

With regard to the timeframe, the legislation has been formulated, as I noted in the initial reply, and it will go the Attorney General. I expect the local enterprise offices will be up and running in the second quarter of 2013.

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