Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 75: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the progress being made by his Department, in consultation with his counterpart in the Northern Ireland Assembly, to draw up a joint proposal to apply for EU funding under the cross-border INTERREG programme for start-up business supports and training initiatives; when he expects a draft proposal will be ready; when the application will be made to the EU; when funding can be expected to be drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24292/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As a result of discussions that I had with Minister Arlene Foster, my Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland have agreed on the need to develop a joint proposal for submission to the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) for funding under the Enterprise Theme of the Interreg IVA Programme, and have asked Invest Northern Ireland (NI) and Enterprise Ireland (EI) to progress this as a priority.

It is expected that SEUPB will open its next call for proposals this Autumn. Both Governments are represented on the Steering Committee which adjudicates on projects and the timeframe for completing due diligence, approval and letter of offer for successful projects is anticipated to be 6-8 months i.e. project start April/May 2011.