Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 388: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason his Department has not grant-aided the provision of five new units at a company (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21063/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department does not grant-aid such developments directly. Enterprise Ireland has, in the past, managed schemes supporting community enterprise centres.

Enterprise Ireland approved funding of €123,133 to Ballinasloe Area Community Development Limited for the development of an enterprise centre under its community enterprise centre, CEC, programme for 1989 to 2001, of which €107,904 has been paid and the balance of €15,229 is being processed for payment. A further €38,000 was approved towards the employment of a centre manager under its 2002 CEC programme. The first moiety of this grant of €19,000 has also been paid. I understand that Ballinasloe Area Community Development Limited did not submit a proposal for the development of five new units adjacent to its existing centre in Ballinasloe although it did submit a different proposal which was unsuccessful.

Enterprise Ireland completed two public calls for proposals from local communities under the CEC 2002 programme. This scheme, announced in 2002 with a fund of €8 million, was a competitive scheme and all the funds have now been fully allocated. Enterprise Ireland is analysing information on 120 Enterprise Ireland supported community enterprise centres nationally to assess the impact that these centres have had both locally and nationally and to determine what role such centres may have in the future with regard to community led enterprise development.