Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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112. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which Enterprise Ireland has an adequate portfolio of industrial sites and buildings, available for leasing and letting through various entrepreneurs, in County Kildare; the extent to which enquiries continue to be made in respect of these sites and buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6560/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Enterprise Ireland is the agency under my aegis with responsibility for the development of Irish enterprise, deepening Ireland’s footprint in world markets, and supporting employment creation in our economy. To support the delivery of property solutions for entrepreneurs and micro-enterprises nationally, Enterprise Ireland, working with other enterprise partners such as the Local Authorities and other local community organisations, co-funds the establishment of Community Enterprise Centres across Ireland. Since the launch of the first of four Community Enterprise Centres (CEC) schemes in 1989, €46 million has been drawn on for the development of CECs across the country. There are 3 Community Enterprise Centres in Kildare (Athy Community Enterprise Centre; Allenwood Enterprise Park Naas; and Thompson Business Centre Clane). Enterprise Ireland does not have the management of a portfolio of industrial buildings available for leasing and letting within its remit. From an industrial development perspective, IDA Ireland is the lead agency nationally with responsibility for property solutions. IDA Ireland has a dedicated property unit which is best placed to offer insight into the type, mix and grade of commercial accommodation needed nationally, and is cognisant of the needs of Irish exporting companies in addition to foreign investors, in this regard.

Earlier today the Government announced details of its 5-year, €250 million Regional Strategy, aimed at accelerating the jobs recovery in every part of the country. Action Plan for Jobs - Regional - is based on the principle that the best way to support job-creation in towns and villages across the country is to support agencies and organisations within 8 regions, to build on the particular strengths and assets of their area and drive new job-creation strategies and projects.

The Strategy is based on the successful Action Plan for Jobs model of setting out lists of actions with timelines and responsibility allocated, and then monitoring implementation.

As Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, I will lead the initiative. Each of the 8 regions will develop its own Action Plan. It is my intention that all Regional Plans will be published or in development by July 2015.

Under the Strategy, Enterprise Ireland will launch a series of new competitive funding initiatives in the areas of entrepreneurship, innovation, enterprise infrastructure and job creation. The objective is to bring forward fresh collaborative initiatives to boost enterprise and job creation in the region. An initial fund of €50 million is to be made available for three competitive calls.

The first of these competitive calls, with a budget of €5 million, will focus on community-driven enterprise initiatives and how all the local players, public and private, can work together to maximise job creation.

The Community Enterprise Initiatives Fund call will be open to existing Community Enterprise Centres (CECs) and also to any other organisation or groups of organisations with innovative ideas to create jobs, promote entrepreneurship, boost innovation or enhance exports. It should be open to any credible and novel approach rather than simply replicating what has been done before.

The criteria in any such competition will be announced by Enterprise Ireland, but the typical criteria will include:

-Promoting a culture of entrepreneurship locally and regionally;

-Developing capacity to start up and scale companies; filling gaps in enterprise facilities;

-Building on existing strengths or opportunities, e.g. developing a sectoral opportunity where there is a competitive advantage;

-Devising a credible plan to deliver added value in jobs and start-ups and increased level of exporting / potential exporters;

-Commitment of matching finance;

-Bringing originality in approach, objectives, leverage of other stakeholders;

-Leveraging off other enterprise support (Mentoring, funding, networks);

-Promoting public and private partnership, e.g. alignment/collaboration with others players (e.g. LEO, ETB, HEIs, Chambers etc.)

I believe this is a significant challenge and a significant opportunity for the Community Enterprise Centres, in collaboration with others, to deliver new businesses and jobs in their locality.