Denis Landy (Labour)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. We are in the second half of the debate and many of my points have already been made. Several Senators have referred to the role of enterprise boards and development companies in helping small businesses to start up and survive. These two groups should be taken under the remit of local authorities. In some cases, the people who need their services are not aware of their work, as they are not making themselves known in communities in the way they should. The established position of local authorities in their communities would provide greater exposure to enterprise boards and development companies. Greater democratic accountability would also be afforded to the dispersal of the moneys they provide to local businesses and entrepreneurs.

In recent years, the level of grant assistance provided to enterprise boards has decreased, resulting in most boards running out of money by the end of the first quarter. For the rest of the year, they have no money to provide to the applicants they accept.

During the debate, a number of Senators referred to the ordinary, small town businesses, for example, butchers and bakers, that are closing down because of multiples entering their areas. The five large multiples are Tesco, Dunne Stores and Superquinn. The names of the fourth and fifth elude me.