Investment in docklands and airport separation ‘priorities’

INVESTMENT in the docklands and independence for the airport are priorities of the Government for Cork.

This is according to Minister for Small Business John Perry who has spoken to Transport Minister Leo Varadkar on the issue of ensuring that Cork secures control for its airport. He also stressed the importance the Government has placed on ensuring there is investment for the development of the docklands area.

Mr Perry was speaking at the Cork Chamber annual conference yesterday and said that the country has gone from having lazy bankers and lazy borrowers to over-zealous bankers and more prudent borrowers.

He said Cork plays an important role nationally and is a role model for the rest of the country.

He said he is aiming to strengthen the resources on which Irish small businesses can draw and ensure that the business environment is conducive to running businesses and competing in domestic and global markets.

“As a Government we are absolutely committed to backing enterprise, and boosting opportunity and dismantling the barriers to finance that sometimes stand in the way,” he said.

He added that details of a temporary partial credit guarantee scheme will be announced in the budget. He said his department is also working on introducing a micro finance fund, which will provide loans of up to €25,000 to start-ups.

“If we are to spread a culture of entrepreneurship across the whole country, we need to empower people to strike out on their own and to shape their own future.”

“Policy interventions will only be effective if they are based on a sound understanding of the needs of the business community and the policy initiatives which will genuinely enhance economic competitiveness.”

Mr Perry established the Small Business Advisory Group in June to identify what issues need to be addressed as a priority and what measures can be considered to further support small business.

Mr Perry said the local business community in Cork plays a vital role in responding to the challenges that recession brings for small business.

“Last week I met with John Mullins, Denis Kirby, JJ O’Connell and John McSweeney to discuss the Small Business Advice Programme and their plans to expand this service to Dublin. This initiative is a welcome one as it enhances the existing supports provided by the state.

“Cork has some great resources and plays a very important role nationally in Irish industry and exports. Cork lends itself national importance in various ways, for example through its port, airport, and as a rail and road hub.

“Investment over the years by the chemical-pharmaceutical, electronics and communications and medical devices sectors has worked well with Cork’s world-class higher education institutes at UCC and CIT and a vibrant local small enterprise community,” he said.

Mr Perry said the most talked about problem facing the SME sector is the unavailability of adequate credit facilities.