Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of bank officials that have been trained by Enterprise Ireland in dealing with business loans for small and medium enterprises and micro enterprises in County Meath; what this training entails; when the remaining bank officials will be trained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24985/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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This Government recognises the importance of ensuring that bank officials engaged in business lending have a good knowledge and understanding of the financial needs of viable businesses, the sectors and markets they trade in, and modern business models. The development and maintenance of close working relationships between our banks and enterprise will enable Irish companies to trade locally as well as helping them to take full advantage of export growth opportunities.

It is in this context that Enterprise Ireland has established working relationships with both the pillar banks and other SME banks. Knowledge sharing activities have been initiated which have included reciprocal secondments, sectoral briefings, participation in Enterprise Ireland sponsored events including international markets week, the finance for growth workshops and the trade mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2010.

This ongoing interaction between Enterprise Ireland and the banks has to date facilitated the participation by over 100 senior bank officials from the main banks, across various general and specialist functions (including Business and Corporate Banking, Trade Finance, Treasury and Credit) in knowledge sharing activities. Enterprise Ireland does not collate data in relation to this type of activity on a county basis.

Additionally, Enterprise Ireland is encouraging the banks to develop propositions for exporters and technology companies that are suited to different stages of growth (start-ups, early stage and mature companies) and to adopt a cashflow lending approach as opposed to the asset backed approach that has been the norm in recent years.

This engagement is ongoing and is a key part of the Government's strategy to ensure that viable businesses have access to credit.