Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 288: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government that innovation centres would be made available to small business in every sector to be exchanged for advice, expertise and information from accredited knowledge providers. [17941/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The establishment of an Innovation Voucher initiative was a key recommendation of the Small Business Forum in the 2006 report "Small Business is Big Business" and was also the subject of a commitment in the Programme for Government 2007-2012.

In March 2007, I announced the establishment of a €10m Innovation Voucher fund, which is being administered by Enterprise Ireland. The Innovation Vouchers initiative was initially launched on a pilot basis. Applications were sought from small businesses that have a business opportunity or problem that they wished to explore by accessing the knowledge in the third level sector in order to become more innovative. The programme has been designed to stimulate an on-going cultural shift with regard to innovation within the small business sector while bridging the gap that exists between the small business community and public research bodies and creating greater synergies between the two.

Each successful applicant received an Innovation Voucher worth €5,000 which can be used to facilitate knowledge transfer from the public research sector to small businesses. The vouchers can be used for any kind of business innovation such as developing a new product or service, improving service delivery or conducting a technology audit. The Vouchers are available to the widest possible range of small businesses in Ireland as permitted by European Union State Aid regulations and to a total of 66 sectors. A total of 24 knowledge providers based all over Ireland, mainly in institutes of technology and universities, are now available to work with the companies that receive Innovation Vouchers.

The pilot phase has met with a very positive response both from the small business sector and from knowledge providers. Building on the success of the pilot, further rounds of the programme have been launched. To date Enterprise Ireland has issued 530 Vouchers over five rounds, with a total redeemable value of €2.65 millions. In the 2007 pilot phase of the Initiative 428 Companies have received Vouchers with a total grant allocation of €2,140,000. In 2008 a further 102 vouchers were approved with a total value of €510,000. It is intended to have a further 3 calls in 2008, the most recent call closed at end of April 2008.

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 289: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government that knowledge acquisition grants would be provided to enable small businesses to gain access to research based knowledge and expertise. [17942/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Small Business Forum in its 2006 report "Small Business is Big Business" sought that Knowledge Acquisition Grants would be provided to small businesses in Manufacturing & Internationally Traded services. The Programme for Government 2007-2012 contained a commitment that such grants would be provided to enable small business in the manufacturing and internationally traded service sectors gain access to research based knowledge, expertise and facilities in higher educational institutes.

Accordingly, as part of the revised and simplified Research and Development programme of initiatives introduced in January 2008, Enterprise Ireland has put in place a €30,000 R&D Stimulation Grant aimed at companies that are new to product, process and service development activities. The financial support will allow the companies to explore how research & innovation can drive their future development.

The Enterprise Ireland R&D Stimulation Grant provides funding to support activities such as:

Developing an R&D business plan

Researching opportunities for new product / process development

Hiring an R&D consultant

Client companies of Enterprise Ireland, Údarás na Gaeltachta and the City and County Enterprise Boards are eligible for this support provided they do not have an established Research and Development function activity or have not already been approved more than €25,000 in R&D support from any development agency in the 3 year period prior to the date of receipt of the company's application. One R&D stimulation grant is available to each individual company.

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 290: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government that assistance would be provided for smaller manufacturing firms to realise the potential of information technology by appointing a director for the research and development programme support structures. [17943/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Government Strategy for Science Development and Innovation 2006-2013 has identified a seven year programme which aims to ensure that Ireland will be at the forefront in generating and using new knowledge for economic and social progress. In the delivery of this Strategy a number of Government Agencies including IDA, Enterprise Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland have put in place a wide range of supports and schemes to fund leading edge research which will assist Irish companies to engage in research and development work that will lead to innovation and the practical application of research in their enterprises.

In January 2008 a revised and simplified Research and Development package of Programmes was introduced jointly by Enterprise Ireland and the IDA for Irish companies, that will be relevant at all stages of client development, and will seek to progress clients from small beginnings to high-level, sustained R&D activity.

In terms of the development of personnel within Irish enterprises, Enterprise Ireland is successfully providing tailored, results-oriented management development programmes in response to identified client needs by providing development programmes in areas identified as critical to growth. This programme seeks to rapidly and effectively develop the capability of company management necessary to drive innovation and to support them in acquiring, developing and integrating the technologies and supporting knowledge required to effectively achieve high developmental goals of their companies.

In addition, Enterprise Ireland operates a website "Openup" that provides information to help companies understand and use IT and eBusiness to improve competitiveness and grow sales by providing jargon-free, independent advice on information technology topics. Specific assistance is provided on finding the right IT supplier; the tax implications of trading online; and the experience of other companies when they implemented eBusiness/ICT projects.

Any further action required under this commitment, including the question of the appointment of a dedicated director, will be kept under review.

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 291: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to fund regional skills advisory groups. [17946/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs were asked to examine the potential of a number of innovative measures to incentivise both employers and employees to more fully engage in education and training. The measures that were reviewed were paid learning leave, individual learning accounts for employees, brokerage services to help firms identify training needs and source suitable training, and the potential of regional skills advisory groups.

The Expert Group have recently concluded their research on these items, including regional skills advisory groups and have presented their findings to both my Department and the Department of Education and Science.

These findings will be considered by the Inter-Departmental Committee on the Implementation of the National Skills Strategy in the context of developing an implementation plan for the National Skills Strategy. The question of what role in determining Ireland's skills needs and in implementing the Skills Strategy, regional skills advisory groups could play will be considered at this stage

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 292: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to expand the training networks programme. [17947/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Since the publication of the Programme for Government the Skillnets Training Networks Programme has been significantly expanded.

Last year Skillnets Limited received a total of €23.5 million, which funded a total of 109 networks. The Training Networks Programme was allocated €13.5 million and trained approximately 21,000 people. The ACCEL programme was allocated €10 million.

The ACCEL programme concluded in March of this year and it will receive no further funding. In 2008 the Training Networks Programme will receive €26.5 million, which will provide funding for 123 networks and will allow approximately 48,000 people to receive training. In line with the commitment contained in the Programme for Government this represents a significant expansion both in terms of investment and the number of people that will receive training through the Training Networks Programme.