Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 76: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to review the eligibility criteria for funding from county enterprise boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11138/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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A fundamental review of the role and functions of the county and city enterprise boards in the development of micro-enterprises was conducted on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment by a group of economic consultants, Fitzpatrick Associates in 2004. The review, which was the most comprehensive examination of the role and functions of the enterprise boards since their inception in 1993, largely endorsed their activities and operations, found that there is justification for continued State support to micro-enterprises and concluded that the enterprise board network can continue to play a useful role in overall national enterprise development policy.

It recommended that, in providing assistance to micro-enterprises, enterprise boards should focus on economic objectives rather than social or local development objectives, that there should be a renewed focus on the core enterprise mission; that issues of potential deadweight, displacement and duplication should be more systematically and rigorously addressed, that there should be a move away from direct grant aid to repayable finance and that more soft supports should be provided as an alternative to grant aid. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment continues to work with the enterprise boards on the reorientation of their focus in line with the recommendations.

The small business forum, which I established last summer, is due to report back to me in the near future. The forum was asked to consider in broad terms the current environment for conducting small business in Ireland and to advise on the adequacy and appropriateness of the public policy responses, including the interventions by the enterprise development agencies, in that context. I look forward to learning of the conclusions of the forum in this regard.