Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of new start up SMEs that have commenced trading in the State for each of the years 2004, 2005, 2006 and to date in 2007 with a breakdown on a county basis in tabular readable form. [26538/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department does not compile specific annual statistics on the number of new start up SMEs that have commenced trading in the State nor their geographic basis. As an assistance to the Deputy, the closest approximation to the information sought may be derived from the number of new companies registered each year and the yearly number of VAT registrations. However these figures in themselves must be seen as indicative only, bearing in mind that SME start-ups may involve unincorporated entities e.g. sole traders and /or may not require immediate VAT registration. In addition, new companies registered would include large companies and companies not immediately trading. Similarly, VAT registrations would also include large companies.

The annual reports of the Companies Registration Office show the total of new companies registered each year since 2004 as follows:

The numbers of VAT registrations over the same period were:

As part of its process in producing thematic reports to assist policy-making, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has recently published its first thematic report focused specifically on the importance of small business in Ireland. The publication of this CSO "Small Business In Ireland" Report (May 2007) followed on from a recommendation of the Small Business Forum for a publication of robust data on a range of indicators relevant to the small business sector. The CSO intends to compile and publish a similar report on an annual basis and will seek to improve the range of information made available.