Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 129: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the proportion of the budget of each county and city enterprise board which is spent on salaries, administration, overheads and grants to business; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44665/08]

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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The 35 County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) were set up in 1993 to provide support for micro-enterprises in the start-up and expansion phases, to promote and develop indigenous micro-enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level. The CEBs deliver a series of Programmes to underpin this role and they can provide both financial and non-financial assistance to a project promoter. The forms of direct financial assistance (Measure 1), which are available to project promoters, subject to certain restrictions, include Capital Grants, Employment Grants, and Feasibility Study Grants. The forms of non-financial assistance or soft supports (Measure 2) assistance available from CEBs cover such programmes as Business Management, Mentoring, E-commerce, Enterprise Education and Women in Business networks.

The total allocation to cover all 35 County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) in 2008 is €31.7m of which some €18m is available for Capital expenditure while €13.7m is available for Administration (pay and non-pay) purposes of which €13.5m was allocated directly to the Boards. In addition, an extra capital provision of €2.5m has been secured out of money carried over from 2007 under the carryover of unspent capital provision to cover CEBs' enterprise education programmes and Tech-Check activities. The cost of administering the CEB network is primarily made up of payroll costs and associated expenditure such as office accommodation, lighting, heating, stationery supplies etc.

The focus of CEB activity has been increasingly on the provision of "soft" supports — management training, mentoring, advisory and information services, etc. A significant allocation is made to the CEBs each year for the provision of these soft support or Measure 2 activities. These activities are considerably more labour intensive than processing grant applications and a very significant portion of CEB staff time is taken up with the organisation and delivery of such activities. In addition, CEB staff would be engaged on a daily basis in the provision of an informal information and advisory service to local entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs.

The statistical information sought by the Deputy is in tabular format below. Figures in relation to grants to business are collated on an annual basis at year-end. Accordingly 2008 figures are not yet available for these activities. I have however set out figures in respect of 2007 for the Deputy's information.