Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action he is taking to develop the indigenous manufacturing sector of the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12011/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The principal means of delivering direct assistance to indigenous manufacturing companies is through the national enterprise development agency, Enterprise Ireland. Enterprise Ireland can assist those indigenous manufacturing companies that are, or at least have the potential to be, export focused. I should point out that the decision to provide support to a client company is a day-to-day administrative matter for the agency concerned, and not one in which I have a direct function.

Enterprise Ireland offers a set of sophisticated solutions tailored to the needs of its individual client companies throughout all regions. Each company is assigned a development adviser who works with the company across all business functions through the business development model, BDM, process. The BDM ensures that support is applied to critical business functions, namely: strategy, finance, research and development, marketing, human resources and production. Financial and non-financial support is provided to companies with a business strategy that encompasses all elements required for business success. Enterprise Ireland also provides expertise to companies in the indigenous manufacturing sector who wish to expand through increased export activity. Through its network of 33 international offices, Enterprise Ireland assists companies to create and implement successful strategies for market entry, development and growth.

Research and innovation, both product and process development, is critical to success in the increasingly global marketplace. Enterprise Ireland encourages sustained levels of research and development activity through its RTI scheme and research and development initiatives. Research and development awareness campaigns are also run to demonstrate the benefits of such investment. Enterprise Ireland also fosters research collaboration between companies and colleges through instruments such as the innovation partnership initiative.

To assist the drive towards competitiveness and productivity within manufacturing, Enterprise Ireland promotes the adoption of new technology at company level. Enterprise Ireland's specialist technologist team delivers mentoring and developmental supports to individual manufacturing companies.

Enterprise Ireland's competitiveness fund was set up to help small and medium enterprises overcome distinctive competitiveness difficulties. Under this fund, which closed in mid-2004, 97 applications, to the value of €11.9 million, were approved for companies predominantly operating in the traditional manufacturing sectors. This investment together with other Enterprise Ireland supports and services will have a considerable impact on improving competitiveness in these companies well into the future. I have requested Enterprise Ireland to bring forward proposals to address the issues and action items outlined in the report of the Enterprise Strategy Group, which was endorsed by the Government in February 2005. It is expected that Enterprise Ireland will outline its approach in this regard as part of the launch of its new strategy, scheduled to take place early next month.