Minister Bruton defends his job creation record

MINISTER for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, has responded to claims by a Northside TD that he has failed to guarantee funding for a scheme that supports local entrepreneurs.

The Community Enterprise Centre (CEC) scheme was established in 1989 to support local entrepreneurs. The Northside Enterprise Centre in Coolock is one of the centres where start-ups have access to desk and office space, meeting rooms, training and mentoring.

The centre has been creating employment and new Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) employers since the mid-1980s.

Independent TD for Dublin Bay North, Tommy Broughan, claimed he had received information from the Minister’s office that there are currently no specific proposals to extend the scheme to fund Business Development Management in 2015.

According to Deputy Broughan, the Minister has requested a review by Enterprise Ireland on the centres because the success levels, occupancy levels and sustainability of jobs at the centres varies.

Deputy Broughan said the Northside Enterprise Centre’s vital work was greatly assisted through funding received from the scheme.

“The Business Development Manager at the Northside Enterprise Centre fills a core function of the centre’s work,

? he argued.

“So why was this review not completed in 2014 so that very successful centres, such as Northside, could maintain their funding, not to mention the disruption to all of the start-up companies and entrepreneurs who are working out of centres like this one?

?

“Minister Bruton says that he is

‘actively working on a template for the development of Regional Enterprise Strategies’ but why reinvent the wheel?

“That’s not very innovative of our Minister for Innovation.

?

Deputy Broughan said figures in Enterprise Ireland’s review show that the scheme is performing well through the work of Business Development Managers and is making a real difference to local economies.

“I have seen this great work at first hand because I am a longstanding volunteer director and founding member of the Coolock Development Council (CDC).

“I dread to think what negative impact this may have on Coolock’s local economy,

? he added.

“I’m calling upon Minister Bruton to reinstate this funding for all local enterprise centres while the review is taking place.

?

In response, Minister Bruton said that as part of the Action Plan for Jobs 2012, Enterprise Ireland funded the appointment of a Business Development Manager for a two-year period in a selected number of CECs.

“I plan to introduce a new approach which will draw lessons from the 2012 programme,

? he told Northside People.

“This new programme will be part of a much more comprehensive strategy to develop enterprise at regional and local level.

“My aim is to enhance the impact of the CEC network on continuing job creation through this strategy.

“Community Enterprise Centres have a key role to play in supporting these objectives.

“Locally, the Northside Community and Business Centre in Coolock and the Darndale Belcamp Initiative supports 43 companies which are providing local employment.

?

Minister Bruton added that he has worked

“flat out

? to create jobs since taking up his portfolio.

“In the three years before the Government took office, 90,000 jobs were lost in Dublin caused by the pursuit of reckless policies,

? he stated.

“Through the Action Plan for Jobs, hundreds of measures have been put in place to support job creation.

“Since the introduction of the plan, the number of people at work in Dublin has increased by 33,000.

“Almost 60 per cent of these jobs have been created in companies supported by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, which are winning new export markets.

?

Minister Bruton said this activity was having a big knock-on impact on the domestic economy.

“Based on the plans which my agencies are implementing, I believe that it will be possible to restore all of the 90,000 jobs lost in Dublin during the economic collapse by 2018,

? he said.

“But only if we continue to reduce taxes on work, improve competitiveness, support exports and constantly innovate.

?

Minister Bruton said small and micro business are playing a key role in the recovery and he believes job creation from start-up companies can double in the next five years.

“These companies now have access to the new Dublin City and the Fingal Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs),

? he added.

“The LEOs offer a first-stop-shop for nearly 80 programmes available nationally or locally, which might help an emerging business.

?