Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 134: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a strategy to develop construction companies here to a scale where they can successfully compete for major contracts around the world has been established since December 2008; and if Enterprise Ireland provides a construction sector export service as envisaged in the Building Ireland's Smart Economy report. [43132/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Enterprise Ireland reorganised its Department structure in 2008 to reflect a focus on construction. Expert appointments have been made in London, Dublin and two Gulf States to work with companies in the sector. Enterprise Ireland is working with the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI), the Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland (ACEI), the Construction Industry Federation, and IBEC to develop services and supports to companies to enable them to succeed in entering these new markets.

In addition, there have also been construction specific missions led by Enterprise Ireland to Russia, Poland, Romania, Saudi and the Gulf States.

Arising from this activity, Enterprise Ireland has registered a significant increase in the number of new construction clients and has approved grant assistance to 100 clients from this sector to explore new markets. Many of Enterprise Ireland's clients have registered on the London Olympics tender site.

Construction clients have also benefited significantly from the recently introduced Enterprise Stabilisation Fund, which supports companies through immediate cash flow and financing difficulties and also supports them with market development costs. As part of the Enterprise Stabilisation Fund, a specific mechanism was established to support the construction professional services firms to fund their market development costs which are targeted in the main at markets in the Middle East and North Africa.

There are 30 construction clients on the Leadership for Growth initiative, which was successfully completed in October of this year. Their participation in the Leadership for Growth initiative has led to the formation of various formal and informal consortia to pursue business opportunities.

Enterprise Ireland has also approved funding for the Construction Technology Industry Association, which is preparing an application for industry-led research support.