Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 120: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the budget for county enterprise boards in each of the past five years; the amount of that budget spent on administration; the amount used for training and upskilling; the amount used on consultancy; the amount spent on contributions to enterprises which are specifically increasing the workforce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28176/09]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The County Enterprise Boards (CEBs) provide support for micro-enterprises (ten or less employees) in the start-up and expansion phases, promote and develop indigenous micro-enterprise potential and stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level. The CEBs deliver a series of Programmes to underpin this role. The costs associated with the operations of the CEBs are incurred in the delivery of a wide range of both financial and non-financial supports to the micro-enterprise sector across the Country.

The forms of financial assistance which are available, subject to certain eligibility criteria, include Capital Grants, Employment Grants and Feasibility Study Grants. The non-financial assistancecan take the form of a wide range of Programmes such as Start Your Own Business Programmes, Management Capability Training and Development Programmes, Mentoring, E-commerce, Enterprise Education, and Women in Business networks. The primary objective of many of these Programmes is to upskill owner/managers to enable them to both sustain and grow their businesses. These activities are considerably more labour intensive than processing grant applications and a significant portion of CEB staff time is taken up with the 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 availability of both financial and non-financial support from the CEB Network contributes positively to greater levels of entrepreneurial activity and enterprise creation, which in turn leads to employment creation in a broader context. Expenditure details are outlined in the following table:

*The total estimated expenditure on consultancy over the past five years is €671,757 across the CEB Network. This includes costs relating to IT, Audit Fees, Accountancy and costs associated with the preparation of Strategic Plans etc.

**Please note that in addition to the annual allocation that a CEB receive the CEBs also use repaid grants at their disposal to disperse further grant aid to eligible micro-enterprises. In addition please note that employment grants are paid to a business in two moieties, which may cross over two years.