John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 89: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation his view on the proposal to transfer the county enterprise board operations to the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government; the consultation that has taken place between the boards, both Departments and Enterprise Ireland; the time frame envisaged for such a transfer; if the County Managers Association has been consulted; if the end user of the service, that is the entrepreneur, has been given the opportunity to make a submission on the proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9996/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innvovation one of my main priorities is to ensure that the manner in which State support for enterprise activity, entrepreneurship stimulation and job creation is delivered, is properly targeted and is effective and coherent. I want to ensure that it is cost effective and that the resources available to the State are used to maximise business activity and sustainability across all sectors in order to drive economic recovery.

The County and City Enterprise Boards have been the principal deliverers of State support to the micro-enterprise sector since their establishment in 1993. The role of the CEBs is to support micro-enterprises employing up to 10 people in the start-up and expansion phases and to stimulate and promote economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level. The CEBs deliver a series of Programmes to underpin this role and they can provide both financial and non-financial assistance to an eligible micro-enterprise. This sector is a key component of the indigenous small business sector. The micro-enterprise sector will be key to our economic recovery. Parallel to the work of the CEBs is, of course, the work of Enterprise Ireland, whose remit includes the support of start-ups that have the potential to employ more than 10 and to achieve €1m in exports. These are start-ups that are typically highly innovative and are in a position to sell globally from their earliest stage.

The Programme for Government recognises that there is a multiplicity of enterprise and job support functions being carried out by local, regional and national agencies. The Programme also recognises the need to streamline such functions, to increase shared knowledge capability and resources while saving on administration costs. However, a critical focus in achieving any such streamlining, is to ensure that we do not compromise on service delivery to the end user. While unnecessary overlap or duplication between agencies and organisations must be eliminated, as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, it is my priority to ensure that above all else there is a coherent and cohesive delivery of State support to the indigenous business sector based on clear enterprise policy principles laid down by my Department.

In relation to the CEBs, I think that their current structure is, in any event, in need of review and reform to move away from their current set up of 35 separate, legal entities with the resultant administrative overhead costs and inflexible staff deployment that this entails. However, any changes to the CEB structure must not compromise the State's engagement with and support for our important micro-enterprise sector.

As the Deputy is aware, the restructuring of the CEBs has been an issue in the public domain since the publication of the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes (the "McCarthy Report") in July 2009. Subsequent to the publication of the McCarthy Report, Ministers of the last Government and their Departmental officials have had a variety of consultations and discussions with the main stakeholders involved, including CEB senior staff and Boards, Enterprise Ireland and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. I understand that some discussions also took place with the County Managers Association at Ministerial level. I am now actively considering the future structure of the CEBs and, in seeking to finalise any decision on their future, I can assure the Deputy that all points of view and, in particular, the needs of the end-user of the services of the CEBs will be fully taken into account.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the funding allocated to each county enterprise board for each of past the four years; if each board used its allocation; the number of new jobs created by each board in the same period; and if he will increase the allocation as part of the 2012 budget. [9997/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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An Exchequer allocation is provided each year under the Estimates process for the funding of the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs). Allocation of funding to individual CEBs is carried out each year by the Central Coordination Unit (CCU) within Enterprise Ireland. The CCU remit is to provide operational, technical and administrative support to the CEB Network. In determining these allocations a systematic approach is adopted by the CCU to ensure the maximum degree of objectivity and equity of treatment. This approach involves the provision of funding on the basis of a standard allocation to each CEB as well as an extra allocation that is determined mainly by population but which also takes account of issues such as local unemployment trends, capacity to spend, existing commitments and regional spread.

The CCU works closely with the CEBs throughout the year to ensure that the CEBs allocated funding is utilised to the maximum extent possible. Should it arise during the year that some Boards are not in a position to spend all of their annual allocation it is reallocated by the CCU to any Boards that are in a position to spend additional funds within the year, subject to assessment of the rationale and the justification for the level of funding being requested. This general approach has been in place for the last few years and represents good management of the funding available for support of the micro-enterprise sector, particularly in the current difficult economic climate.

Information on the Exchequer allocations for the 35 CEBs over the last four years is below. In general most Boards have fully used these allocations apart from where small amounts have been returned to the Exchequer at year end, or in the circumstances outlined above where monies were redistributed within the network. Job creation statistics are also included. Final Exchequer allocations for 2012 will be determined as part of the 2012 Budget process and will be subject to the overall demands on the public finances.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the number of staff employed in the section of his Department who administer the county enterprise boards; the year on year cost of operating that section; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9998/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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There are six staff employed in the Micro-Enterprise Policy Unit of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation of whom four are full-time. The basic salary costs involved (including Employers PRSI) in 2010 was just over €340,000. It should be noted, however, that the staff member at Principal Officer level, whose full salary costs are included in the figure cited, is not exclusively assigned to the Micro-Enterprise Policy Unit but has responsibility for two other Business Units within the Department. One other staff member works part-time.