Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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81. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total budget allocated and total amount distributed by each county enterprise board for 2007 to 2013; and if he will provide an explanation for allocation of funds to county enterprise boards [24872/13]

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) and comprises of both a Current and a Capital element. The allocation of funding to individual CEBs is conducted each year by the Central Coordination Unit (CCU) within Enterprise Ireland.

The Current funding allocations are made in respect of the estimated cost of salaries and administration for the year. The Capital allocations are used to provide so-called “Measure 1” (direct grant assistance) and “Measure 2” (training and development) supports for micro-enterprises employing up to 10 staff. In determining the Capital 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.

As part of the CCU’s on-going management of available funding during the year, the Unit monitors CEB spending on a regular basis. Should any surplus funding become available, this surplus will be reallocated by the CCU to any Boards that are in a position to spend additional funds, subject to thorough assessment of the rationale and the justification for the level of funding being requested.

The following tables set out the Capital budget allocations and the amounts distributed by the County and City Enterprise Boards for the years 2007-2013.

The final Capital allocations for 2011 and 2012 include additional funding which was allocated to the CEBs in the final quarter of each of these years. The funding was secured from savings elsewhere within the Department.

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

*Final Capital Budgets for previous years listed include additional allocations in the 3rd or 4th quarter of the year, sourced from savings made within existing DJEI budgets. It is anticipated that similar savings will be allocated through 2013 to bring the final capital budget up to a comparable level to previous years.