Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 1104: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if an application for funding has been received from an organisation (details supplied); if the application has been assessed; if the funding requested will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1025/07]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 1114: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise and Small Business had a presentation from a group (details supplied) in which a most impressive presentation was made outlining the extensive work in enterprise education which the group has been undertaking for some time; if following their application for increased funding in the 2007 Estimates under the various votes for his Department he will outline the section of the vote that would be empowered to make a financial contribution to the work of the group; the amount of money they can expect to receive; when they will be notified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2056/07]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 1118: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will include a financial contribution to an organisation (details supplied) to allow them to continue their work in respect of developing entrepreneurship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2337/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1104, 1114 and 1118 together.

I am aware that Junior Achievement Ireland made a presentation to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise and Small Business in June 2006 outlining the range of enterprise education activities in which the group has been involved. I should also inform the Deputy that I met with Ms. Della Clancy, Executive Director of Junior Achievement Ireland in April, 2006 at which she outlined the work and objectives of the organisation.

Junior Achievement Ireland is already in receipt of funding from my Department. In 2006, the organisation was paid €70,000 under my Department's "Discover Science and Engineering Awareness Programme". Another €20,000 has been approved for payment this year while a further application for funding from Junior Achievement for its Science Challenge 2007 initiative is currently under consideration.

State funding for enterprise promotion at all levels is presently channelled through the relevant State Agencies. The County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs), funded by my Department, already have a well established role in the delivery of a wide range of enterprise education initiatives as part of their role in promoting and developing indigenous micro-enterprise potential and stimulating economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level.

As the Deputy may be aware the Report of the Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG) acknowledged the importance of education and training in contributing to the future strong economic development of Ireland. This was subsequently reiterated in the Report of the Small Business Forum. In this context, the present arrangements for the delivery of enterprise education are currently being reviewed. The role of Junior Achievement Ireland will be borne in mind in this context.