Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 106: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of grants paid out by each county enterprise board for each of the years 2004, 2005, 2006 and to date in 2007; the number of businesses that were in receipt of these grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30573/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The function of the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) is to develop indigenous enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity at regional level throughout the country. There are 35 Boards located throughout the 26 counties and their local base means that the projects and related job opportunities they support are specifically tailored to the particular needs of the local economic environment of the regions, urban and rural.

The CEBs can provide both financial and non-financial assistance to a project promoter. The forms of financial assistance which are available, subject to certain restrictions, include Capital Grants, Employment Grants and Feasibility Study Grants. The total number of grants paid out by the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) from 2004 to end September, 2007 stands at €39.3m. 3,392 businesses were in receipt of CEB assistance during this period. (2007 figures are provisional – end of year statistics will not be compiled until January, 2008.)

A breakdown of the information requested by the Deputy is set out in tabular format below.