Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the situation with regard to a grant previously allocated for an enterprise centre at Bray, County Wicklow; if this grant is still available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8482/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I should point out that the allocation of grants under the community enterprise centre, CEC, scheme is the responsibility of Enterprise Ireland, the agency charged with administering the scheme, and is not a matter in which I have a direct role.

I am informed by Enterprise Ireland that in 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. 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 that was to be developed at Fassaroe. The developers had made a site available for the centre. However, in 2000 the business park was refused planning permission 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, they have been unable to put together a viable total funding proposal. In October 2005, Enterprise Ireland stated that it was aware that there was still a commitment by Bray Community Enterprise Ltd. to drive the Bray CEC project forward and of the difficulties that the group has encountered in trying to achieve this. Enterprise Ireland also stated that in the event that a viable proposal for a CEC in Bray was submitted, Enterprise Ireland would be prepared to discuss the project with the group but given the time lapse since the original proposal was approved Enterprise Ireland could not make a commitment as to what its decision might be on such a proposal.

Enterprise Ireland is currently inviting submissions from all interested communities under the community enterprise centre 2006 scheme, which has a fund of €7 million. The closing date for receipt of applications is 27 April 2006. The programme will extend the previous Enterprise Ireland community enterprise centre 2002 scheme with some minor amendments regarding eligibility and evaluation criteria. As a result of the time lapse involved, and the recent launch on the new scheme, Enterprise Ireland is in the process of notifying proposers of projects approved under the previous schemes which have not as yet been taken up, including Bray, that the approval is under final review.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, further to Question No. 670 of 28 September 2005, the grant aid which has been returned to his Department; the discussions his Department has had with the company concerned regarding alternative employment on the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8497/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The company in question has not returned any grant aid to Enterprise Ireland. Discussions between the agency and the company concerning grant aid are ongoing. Progress is being made and I understand that a conclusion should be reached in the near future. The process involves the consideration of complex legal issues and a final decision will have to be made by the board of Enterprise Ireland.

The issue of further investment at Rooskey continues to be discussed with the company but, given the adequacy of its facilities nationwide, no further investment has been forthcoming for the site at Rooskey. However, I should point out that, notwithstanding this, the company has made significant investment in its overall Irish pork processing business over the last few years.