Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 266: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the percentage occupancy of enterprise centres across the State and in each local authority area. [9293/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I assume the question refers to Community Enterprise Centres, CECs, under Enterprise Ireland's CEC schemes. Under the schemes Enterprise Ireland, along with local authorities, city and county enterprise boards and other regional players part fund community groups for the purpose of construction, expansion and development of Community Enterprise Centres.

The construction and day-to-day operation of CECs is managed by the local community groups. Enterprise Ireland has funded 97 completed construction and expansions projects — 90 construction and seven expansion — and funding is approved for an additional 28 projects, which are at various stages of planning and construction. In total, €23m has been paid to community groups by Enterprise Ireland in respect of CECs to date.

Currently, Enterprise Ireland is conducting a survey of the CECs it has funded and expects to be in possession of detailed information, including occupancy percentages, by May 2005. I will arrange for the relevant information to be passed to the Deputy when it is available.