Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation when he will be conducting examinations into allowing entrepreneurs or business start-ups access to vacant or under-utilised public property as incubation centres; the person who will be responsible for rolling out this programme; the conditions that will be attached to this for persons or businesses seeking premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45501/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The enterprise agencies under the aegis of my Department currently have a range of initiatives for the provision of space for start up companies. These include incubation centres, community enterprise centres and business innovation centres. There are currently 21 campus incubation centres facilities that are operational. At present, there are over 250 companies in incubation units in these centres, employing 1,065 people and providing shorter-term hot-desk space for emerging entrepreneurs.

The Community Enterprise Centre Scheme has provided significant funding to facilitate the development of community enterprise centres, which are aimed at providing a physical and human support network for emerging entrepreneurs and micro-industry. Since the launch of the first scheme in 1989, €61.4 million has been approved for the development of Community Enterprise Centres and the schemes have aided the capital investment and management development of 134 centres, of which 105 have been completed. The balance of these centres are either under construction or are recent approvals and there is approximately €6 million in capital grants yet to be drawn down in 2010 by CEC approved applications.

In addition, Business Innovation Centres located in Dublin, Galway, Cork and Waterford develop and manage incubation space to assist fledgling businesses start, establish and then to move on, so that vacated space can be used for other new start-up businesses. The enterprise agencies keep the need for space of this type under review. Implementation of the actions in the National Recovery Plan are being considered at present.