Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 302: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if funding was granted for the establishment of an enterprise centre at Bray, County Wicklow; if so, when the allocation was made; the amount allocated; the status of the funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12253/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The allocation of grants under the community enterprise centre or CEC scheme is the responsibility of Enterprise Ireland, the agency charged with administering the scheme, and not a matter in which I have a direct role.

I am informed by Enterprise Ireland that in September 2000, the agency approved grant support for Bray Community Enterprise Limited towards the building of a community enterprise centre in Bray and towards the management costs for the first two years. Total funding approval was €940,442 made up as follows: building, €903,113 [IR£711,260] or 50% of cost, whichever is the lesser; project manager, €9,332 [IR£7,350] or 50% of cost, whichever is the lesser; and centre manager,€27,997 [IR£22,050] or 50% of cost, whichever is the lesser. A condition of the grant agreement was that construction should commence not later than 1 September 2000 and be completed not later than 30 September 2001.

The project proposal was based on the construction of the enterprise centre in a business park to be developed by Cosgrave Property Group at Fassaroe. The developers had made a site available for the centre. However, in 2000, the business park was refused planning permission by An Bord Pleanála and the entire development, including the community enterprise centre proposal, did not go ahead.

In the intervening years, the proposers have made a number of attempts to develop an alternative project proposal. However, despite receiving advice and support from Enterprise Ireland, Wicklow County Council, Wicklow Enterprise Board and Bray Chamber of Commerce, the proposers have been unable to put together a viable total funding proposal. The group has been notified that Enterprise Ireland grant approval is no longer available and will be withdrawn.

It should be noted that nearly five years have elapsed since Enterprise Ireland approved funding for the Bray project. Since then, a further CEC programme was undertaken in 2002 on a competitive basis.