Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which adequate funds are available to county enterprise boards or other agencies likely to have an impact on job creation and retention in the small and medium sized employment creating sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21135/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The enterprise development agencies have a crucial role to play in supporting economic recovery and driving sustainable employment growth.

These agencies will be to the forefront of implementing the Action Plan for Jobs, creating the right operating environment for business growth and ensuring that small and medium enterprises are facilitated in maximising their contribution to economic and jobs growth.

In terms of monies allocated to the enterprise development agencies under the aegis of my Department, the situation is as follows: €307.806m has been allocated to Enterprise Ireland for 2012; €5m has been allocated to Shannon Development for 2012; €15m has been allocated to the City and County Enterprise Boards for 2012 .

The allocations outlined above represent a strong investment across the board in the enterprise development agencies and I am satisfied that they have adequate resources available to them to meet funding demands for grants and other supports to the SME sector and other eligible indigenous enterprises.