Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I wish to update this House on progress in regard to the operation of the social economy programme. Since it was launched in September 2000 there has been a significant level of interest in the roll-out of the social economy programme, as the following data demonstrate. There have been 773 applications for grant support to develop business plans; 600 of these applications for business plan grant support, up to a maximum of €5,080 in each case, have been approved; 324 social economy enterprises have been approved for full start-up grant support, with an employment commitment of approximately 2000 grant supported employees; 230 of these approved enterprises have commenced operations and 1,450 grant supported employees are in place, two-thirds of whom are working full time. The budget approved for the social economy programme in the current year is €20.5 million compared to €6.6 million in 2001. This funding is now fully committed to the social economy enterprises which have been approved to date. Accordingly, no new enterprises are being approved at present. The 2003 budget for the programme will be settled in the context of the Estimates process.