John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans for the future of city and county enterprise boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37860/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The county and city enterprise boards, CEBs, continue to play an extremely important role in developing the small business sector in Ireland and, to support them in delivering their programmes, some €30 million in Exchequer funds was allocated to fund them in 2005.

The CEBs have been co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the current National Development Plan 2000-2006. While it will be some time before we will know what level of EU funds, if any, will be available to support the CEBs programmes in the next round of funding, I can confirm that it is my intention that an appropriate level of funding for the CEBs will be maintained for the foreseeable future. However, as with any programme of expenditure, the amount to be provided each year will have to be determined in the context of the usual budgetary constraints.

As regards structures, the Government has approved a recommendation of Enterprise Strategy Group for the establishment of a new central co-ordination unit within Enterprise Ireland, which will provide the CEBs with central direction, technical support, shared services and quality assurance with a view to enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency and impact of the CEBs. Discussions are taking place between my Department and the relevant agencies regarding the steps necessary to implement the ESG's recommendation in this regard. It is my intention to have this new unit established in early 2006.