Huge parts of the Government's social and economic programme have yet to be completed, the Tanaiste said yesterday.

In Waterford, where Ms Harney initiated several small enterprise projects, she said she thought the Government had done well on the economic front. But she added: "There is a large programme remaining to be implemented, particularly in relation to the Government's social agenda.

"I believe strongly that our job in Government is to clear the way for all forms of enterprise and initiative. This includes community and voluntary enterprise as well as business and individual enterprise," she said.

Already £1.57 million (€2 million) has been committed to four projects providing 40 jobs and a further 30 business plans have been approved as part of the Social Economy Programme for the south-east region. Across the State, there are 24 full project approvals and 225 grants for business plan development.

The Craft Granary in Cahir, Co Tipperary, the Barrow Nore Suir Rural Development, the JF Kennedy Trust in New Ross, Co Wexford, and the Hook Tourism Project to develop the lighthouse in Co Wexford, are at start-up stage already.

Later, Ms Harney opened an incubation centre for business start-ups, developed by the South East Business and Innovation Centre (SIBEC). She said the Government continued its efforts to create an environment that was conducive to innovation and commercial risk taking, that facilitated and supported the growth of more small and medium-sized enterprises.

The centre is the first of its kind in the south-east and will provide state-of-the-art facilities and access for SIBEC business advisers who will work closely with start-up companies to develop a commercial business plan. The centre can take up to 11 start-up companies; three have started already.