Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 125: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if funding will be made available to county enterprise boards for the provision of re-training in each board area in respect of persons who have lost their business or enterprise or for those who are seeking to commence new business and small to medium sized enterprise opportunities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5745/09]

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 Boards are widely dispersed geographically and provide a single point of contact at local level for new and established small businesses. All areas of the country are served by and benefit from, the full range of Enterprise Board grant supports and entrepreneurial development programmes. Subject to certain eligibility criteria enterprises may access assistance and support from the CEBs. The forms of financial assistance which are available, subject to certain restrictions, include Capital Grants, Employment Grants and Feasibility Study Grants. The provision of non-financial assistance can take the form of a wide range of business advice such as Programmes covering Business Management, Mentoring, E-commerce, Enterprise Education, and Women in Business networks.

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 to support start-up and development of the microenterprise sector. 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 Capital Allocation for the 35 CEBs under the 2009 Estimates Process stands at €20.8m for the provision of grants and soft supports to enterprises. In 2009 the Boards will continue to be actively involved in the area of economic development and will ensure that available funds are targeted to maximise entrepreneurial development. This will be done not just by direct grant aid to businesses and project promoters but also through the provision of a range of other important business supports such as mentoring, business training and business advice, all of which help to stimulate indigenous enterprise creation.