€3.3m boost for County and city enterprise boards
County and city enterprise boards (CEBs) are to get a €3.3m funding boost, creating more than 450 jobs, Taoiseach Brian Cowen announced today.
The money will be channelled through the CEBs to help new businesses get off the ground and support existing ones to keep staff.
But Fine Gael said the cash would only make up some of the funding slashed from the bodies’ 2010 budget.
Richard Bruton, enterprise spokesman, said: “Even after this new allocation, funds for business start-ups will be 10% down on 2009.
“This comes at a time when potential new start-ups have increased by 20%, as people displaced from jobs try to develop ideas.”
Mr Bruton said it was unclear where the minister suddenly found an extra €3.3m.
He questioned what other budget was cut to make way for the stimulus.
“This funding will only make up some of the shortfall in the 2010 allocation,” Mr Bruton said.
The Fine Gael TD said three of the four Dublin enterprise boards ran out of money during the summer.
Mr Cowen said the stimulus would support projects and safeguard employment in towns and cities across the country.
“Jobs are the central priority of government policy and the CEBs create and protect jobs in communities throughout the country,” the Taoiseach said.
“The CEBs’ local focus and agile ability to respond quickly to specific business needs are key components in the government’s overall policy to support entrepreneurship, growth and productivity in the micro-enterprise sector.”
