Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if it is realistic to expect the county enterprise boards to process the disbursement of grants to entrepreneurs in a time period of about six weeks or less, in view of the fact that the CEBs have to seek and access applications, approve applications at board level, potential clients have then to lodge three quotations for expenditure, secure bank finance, the CEBs have then to inspect purchases of equipment, draw the funds from his Department, and then send it on to successful clients, all to be completed by 15 December; if he will explain the reason that his Department has left it so late in the year to disburse funding to the CEBs when they were first asked for clarity of this funding in March and again in June; his further views on whether this is an efficient way to support organisations at the heart of job creation here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47878/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Under the Exchequer Estimates Process, an annual Exchequer allocation is provided for the operation of the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs). In 2012, the CEBs received an Exchequer Capital Allocation of €15 million towards the provision of grants and soft supports, such as training, mentoring and advice services, to the micro-enterprise sector. This allocation is distributed among the CEBs once it is secured by my Department and thereafter the disbursement of these monies to clients is a matter for each Board. My Department does not retain any of the allocation for distribution later in the year.

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 Central Coordination Unit conducts regular surveys among the CEBs to monitor expenditure, identify savings and determine any additional capital funding requirements to year end. As a result of these exercises, additional demand was identified by 30 of the 35 CEBs and my Department began a process to identify savings in other Agencies of the Department that would fund these requirements. This process in reality can only be done towards the final quarter of the year when the Agencies are in the best position to determine their full year spending requirements.

Additional funding of €3.78 million was identified and made available to the CEBs for the provision of direct assistance to the micro-enterprise sector and I am assured that this funding will be disbursed to eligible projects before the end of the year. At no stage due to lack of funds do CEBs refuse to assist a viable enterprise that is in real need of support. My Department has made it clear to the CEBs via the EI Central Coordination Unit that if such a situation were to arise; funding will be made available through savings elsewhere in the Departments vote.

The funding arrangements for the CEBs are based on sound financial practice as set out within the Government financial procedures and ensure that the State maximises its return on its investment in jobs from across the capital expenditure programme.