Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 73: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps she is taking to support the role of county enterprise boards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27138/09]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) are the principal deliverers of State support to the micro-enterprise sector in Ireland. They provide support to businesses with 10 or less employees in the start-up and expansion phases, promote indigenous micro-enterprise potential and stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level. As locally based enterprise development agencies the Boards are well positioned to meet the needs of their local economy.

I have secured a Capital Allocation for the CEBs of over €20m for provision of both financial and non-financial supports to the micro-enterprise sector in 2009. This was secured against a background of savings in other areas of Government activity and is an acknowledgement of the importance of the Boards and of the need that exists for their services particularly at this time. Using this funding the Boards will continue to ensure that available funds are targeted to maximise entrepreneurial development.

Given the challenges which the business sector is currently facing I will, in association with the CEB Central Coordination Unit within Enterprise Ireland (CCU), and with the CEB network itself, continue to monitor the level of funding and range of supports offered by the CEBs in order to ensure that the CEBs are able to respond appropriately to these challenges and I will continue to support the CEBs, in the delivery of assistance to the micro-enterprise sector, to the greatest extent possible given the significant pressures on public finances.