Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 151: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the funding, by county, allocated to the county enterprise boards for 2010 and 2011; the number of grants offered and taken up; if any county enterprise board did not use its entire budget in 2010, the enterprise board to which it was transferred; the number of feasibility studies that were assisted with grant aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21861/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The role of the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) is to provide support for micro-enterprises in the start-up and expansion phases, to promote and develop indigenous micro-enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level. The CEBs deliver a range of tailored Programmes and Supports in order to fulfil this role. The overall priorities for Capital expenditure by the CEBs focus on the promotion and stimulation of entrepreneurship at local level and the development of sustainable growth-orientated micro-enterprises, which, over time, can develop into strong export entities. This is done through the provision of both financial assistance and non-financial assistance.

An annual Exchequer allocation is provided each year for the operation of the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs). The Exchequer allocation is made in the context of the overall public finances and in 2011 amounts to €27.242m, of which €15m in Capital is available for direct grants and training, mentoring and advice services to micro-enterprise clients. The bulk of the non-capital allocation to each CEB pays the salaries of the Business Advisors and other staff who provide direct advice and mentoring to client companies. This represents a strong investment in the micro-enterprise sector, notwithstanding the additional level of demand on CEB services generated in the current difficult economic climate.

It is a matter in the first instance for individual CEBs to determine how they will use allocated funds. The CEB Central Coordination Unit (within Enterprise Ireland) works closely with the CEBs throughout the year reviewing individual expenditures to ensure that the funding allocated to the CEBs is utilised to the maximum extent possible. As part of this process the CCU undertakes a surrenders and reallocation process whereby any potential underspend by a CEB is identified and made available to any CEB that has requested additional funding. Any monies surrendered are not transferred from one specific CEB to another but are pooled and reallocated as part of an impartial reallocation process. Some CEBs may not be in a position to spend the totality of their annual allocation when for example an approved grant is decommitted very late in the year in circumstances where the grantee is unable to draw down the grant within the time available. If this arises in the very limited circumstances where the money cannot be reallocated the money is surrendered to the Exchequer.

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in tabular format below. Data breakdown of Feasibility Study/Innovation Grants paid for 2010 has not been available from the information available to the Department but is being sourced and will be supplied separately to the Deputy.

CEB Exchequer Allocations 2010 and 2011

**Figures for 2010 are final allocations for each year (I.e. by year end, after any additional funding or reallocation within the Network have been conducted). Figure for 2011 is the initial allocation for the year