Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

My point is that the main provision of the Bill is that primary legislation is necessary to give effect to the decision to integrate Forfás into the Department. I came across this situation before where two agencies whose names elude me - they may come to me before I am finished - were amalgamated. When we inquired about how it was going, we were told that it would be ongoing for some time. Integration talks, bonding sessions and everything else were needed for the personnel from both agencies. I understand that there needs to be a bit of that but not weekend courses and enormous courses which go nowhere. I hope the Minister of State understands what I am talking about. We need these things to happen although clearly it cannot happen overnight. The Bill transfers functions conferred upon Forfás under section 9 of the Industrial Development Act 1993 to IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland. The functions will be conferred directly upon the agencies as appropriate with the exception of some powers which are reserved to the Department. All of this has to happen legally and I accept that it is above board. I am talking about common sense prevailing.

As Deputy Spring mentioned, we also see the county enterprise boards under sustained challenge. They are to be taken back under the remit of the county councils. They were always under the remit of the county council but they were at arm's length. I also served on one and found it to be very beneficial. It included the mentoring programmes and the different schemes that did not have a lot of money. It was evaluated that the amount of money they spent per job was minuscule compared to what the IDA and other agencies spent. They have done outstanding work. I can speak for my own one in south Tipperary. I would be worried that it would brought under complete local authority control. The last person to say this is a former Member.

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