Junior Achievement Ireland, an education body supported by many of Ireland's largest companies, is seeking €2 million in Government funding to help it reach more students.

The group, which has worked with 210,000 students aged between five and 18, says it can reach an additional 30,000 pupils with Government financial help.

However, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Industry has failed to offer any money to the group, saying it already provides funding for enterprise education through grants it gives to the 35 County Enterprise Boards, a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise and Small Business heard yesterday.

At the meeting, Della Clancy, Junior Achievement's executive director, called on the Government to stop dragging its heels over the issue.