Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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223. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the reason a centre (details supplied) did not receive funding under the community enterprise initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15183/16]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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118 applications for the Community Enterprise Initiative Competitive Fund were considered with a total value of €12.3m. There was strong demand for the funding and the process was highly competitive with a threshold mark of 60 to be reached to be successful. The primary criteria and basis for marking the applications were:

- Representation of community interests

- Financial need and viability/Value For Money

- Employment creation prospects

- Collaboration

- Future prospects/sustainability.

32 applications exceeded the threshold, following assessment by an external assessor and Committee adjudication and approval by Enterprise Ireland. The value of the successful projects amounted to €3.06m.

Due to the high demand, Enterprise Ireland will issue a further call for proposals in Quarter 3 this year. This new call will be open to those that may have been unsuccessful under the first call for proposals and also to new applicants.

Enterprise Ireland will work with all applicants that apply for funding under the second call for proposals.

I will engage closely with Enterprise Ireland to continue to roll out a series of new competitive regional funding initiatives that deliver on the potential of local and regional strengths; and promote collaboration among the various public and private interests to create new enterprises and jobs.