John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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328. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the level of funding allocated to the business development management programme for community enterprise centres; the amount allocated to each centre; if the programme will be funded each year for the foreseeable future; his plans for community enterprise centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15299/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I understand from Enterprise Ireland that the last Community Enterprise Centre Scheme for Business Development Management rolled out was in 2012 and 2013 when Enterprise Ireland provided funding of nearly €2 million to support the recruitment of a total of 46 Business Development Managers. The funding allocated is outlined in the following tabular statement. In February last, I announced details of the 5-year, €250 million Regional Action Plan for Jobs, aimed at accelerating the jobs recovery in every part of the country. The Regional Action Plan 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.

Under the Regional Plan, Enterprise Ireland will launch a series of new competitive funding initiatives in the areas of entrepreneurship, innovation, enterprise infrastructure and job creation. 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. It is expected that details of this Scheme will be announced shortly.

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

- A credible plan demonstrating innovative solutions to fostering and creating employment locally and regionally in a collaborative manner;

- Demonstration of how a proposal fits with existing public and private infrastructure e.g. availability of business space in creating enterprise hubs and clusters across the region;

- Promotion of a culture of entrepreneurship locally and regionally;

- Development of a capability to start-up and scale companies through a supportive business environment;

- Support for micro enterprise with the potential to export;

- Facilitating a hub where innovative start-ups can be established in a supportive network before moving on to accommodate the next cohort of emerging enterprises;

- Working with the Local Enterprise Office, to facilitate start-ups with a defined path for onward progression;

- Maximising existing enterprise clusters or developing new networks in a region;

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

- Commitment of matching finance;

- Bringing originality in approach and objectives, and leveraging other stakeholders to explore how all the local partners, public and private, can work together to maximise job creation in their region (Mentoring, funding, networks);

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