Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has, under any of the schemes or funding available to him, created or is proposing to create initiatives to either protect or promote small and medium enterprises within areas for which his Department has responsibility and in which there have been redundancies or job losses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8953/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment has primary responsibility in relation to the promotion of small and medium enterprises. However, my Department operates a range of initiatives, schemes and programmes that support the growth of business and enterprise. Relevant schemes include the 2007-2013 Rural Development Programme (RDP), the CLÁR programme, the Community Services Programme, the Enterprise scheme for non-Gaeltacht offshore islands, and Rural Recreation schemes.

My Department is responsible for the implementation of the LEADER elements of the 2007-2013 RDP. A key objective of the programme focuses on the diversification of the rural economy and specifically provides €48.26m to support micro-enterprises. This funding will complement the supports provided by the County Enterprise Boards and will focus, in particular, on the development of indigenous rural resources in artisan food, forestry, marine, rural / agri-tourism, cultural heritage and community promoted enterprises; the development of recreational tourism and other complementary tourism supports and environmentally friendly initiatives.

In addition to the above, I would draw the Deputy's attention to the work of Údarás na Gaeltachta and the Western Development Commission (WDC), which are agencies under the aegis of my Department. Údarás na Gaeltachta are working to reverse the downward employment trend in the Gaeltacht (with a target of 800 new jobs annually) and effect the transition from a declining manufacturing sector to employment in services, including Irish-language centred employment.