Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 310: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if funding will be made available for the appointment of a co-ordinator in Mitchelstown, County Cork to implement the town's socioeconomic plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29309/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that Enterprise Ireland will contribute to the funding necessary for the appointment of a coordinator in Mitchelstown, Co. Cork to implement the town's socioeconomic plan and is available to assist in the recruitment of a person with a view to appointing the successful candidate as soon as possible to carry out this vital work.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 311: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will advise on a query (details supplied). [29409/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department does not provide direct funding or grants to businesses but provides funding to a number of State Agencies, including the County and City Enterprise Boards, Enterprise Ireland and FÁS, through whom assistance is delivered directly to businesses.

The 35 County and City Enterprise Boards provide a source of support to small businesses with 10 employees or fewer. Subject to certain eligibility criteria new and developing enterprises may qualify for financial support from the CEBs in the form of feasibility, employment and capital grants. All of the CEBs operate to the same criteria in relation to the assistance which they can offer i.e. they can support the establishment and/or the development of enterprises provided that the projects, which should generally be in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sector, have the capacity to achieve commercial viability and which over time may develop into strong exporting entities. In addition, the CEBs deliver a range of non-financial supports to improve management capability development within micro-enterprises designed to help new and existing enterprises to operate effectively and efficiently so as to last and grow.

I would suggest that the people concerned should, in the first instance, make direct contact with their local CEB and explore what level of assistance, if any, may be available to them. Contact details for individual CEBs can be found by accessing the following website; www.enterpriseboards.ie.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department or any of its agencies have funded a visit to China after the Skills Olympics in Japan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29428/07]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 313: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the location the Skills Olympics was held on the last three occasions; the number of people who attended on each occasion; the number of whom were participants; the net cost to the taxpayer on each occasion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29429/07]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 314: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people who were funded at the tax-payers expense to travel to Japan for the Skills Olympics; the cost of the trip and the number of participants in the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29430/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 312 to 314, inclusive, together.

Ireland's participation in this competition, involving 49 countries with 824 participants in 47 skills areas, benchmarks our strong craft/technical vocational education training against the technological advances in training in other countries. The WorldSkills competition was established with the aim of achieving world-class standards and competencies in commerce, services and industry. Ireland first competed in 1957 and has hosted the competition in Dublin in 1963 and in Cork in 1979.

WorldSkills Council Ireland manages the selection, training and participation of Ireland's team for the WorldSkills competition. I understand that the Council is chaired by the Department of Education and Science and is representative of the various partners in vocational education and training including the Department of Education and Science, FÁS, Institutes of Technology, the Dublin Institute of Technology, Fáilte Ireland and the Irish Vocational Education Association.

The WorldSkills competition is held every two years. Prior to the 2007 competition in Japan the last three competitions were held as follows: 2005 Helsinki, Finland; 2003 St. Gallen, Switzerland; 2001 Seoul, Korea.

The following is a breakdown of the composition of the overall Irish group on each occasion:

In 2007, I understand that the return journey included a stop over in Beijing. The information regarding the cost of participating is being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy in the near future. I understand that Ireland's participation in the competition is aided by sponsorship. Participating organisations in the competition including FÁS contribute pro rata to the cost in accordance with the numbers from each organisation.