Enterprise board funding top up to create 15 jobs

The provision of additional funding to Westmeath and Longford County Enterprise Boards will help create jobs in the constituency, according to local Fine Gael TD Nicky McFadden has said. Deputy McFadden welcomed the announcement by Minister for Small Business John Perry that €142,500 in extra funding would be provided to Westmeath and Longford County Enterprise Boards for job creation projects. "The allocation of additional funds to the County Enterprise Boards will directly fund job creation projects and comes from specific requests from County Enterprise Boards. Westmeath Enterprise Board will receive an additional €112,500 which will bring 15 additional jobs to the county. Longford will receive an additional €30,000 and create 6 additional jobs in the process," Deputy McFadden said. "Both Longford and Westmeath County Enterprise Boards are experiencing an increased demand for their services. The demand for services shows that innovative ideas for start-ups are very much alive in the constituency." Speaking at the announcement, Minister Perry said, "If we are to get out of this crisis, it is crucial that we strive in every way possible to encourage the start-up and expanding businesses that will create the jobs of the future. The County and City Enterprise Boards around the country have a key role to play in providing much-needed capital for these businesses. This year a number of CEBs have indicated that they would not have sufficient funding to respond to the needs of start-ups in their area, and so the Department sought to make savings in other areas to provide funding for these vital businesses. Each CEB had been asked to examine the funding available and whether it already had sufficient money to cover the projects coming to them seeking funding over the rest of the year. Arising from this, seven boards concluded that they had sufficient funds available to them in 2011.