Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent)
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320. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide a breakdown by county and town of the funding allocated to each county and town enterprise board; if he will provide a breakdown by county and town of the way this funding is spent-allocated on grants, pay and administration and other for 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2463/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Details of the allocations on pay, non-pay (administration) and capital grants (measures 1 and 2) for each of the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) for 2011, 2012 and 2013 are set out in tables 1 to 3.

An Exchequer allocation is provided each year under the Estimates process for the funding of the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs). 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 bulk of this 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.

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

Table 1: 2011

Table 2: 2012

Table 3: 2013