Bank of Ireland has singled out women in a drive to capture more business. The bank is to provide over £50,000 worth of sponsorship this year to

Network, the organisation for women in business. The bank has also appointed Ms

Angela Leigh Doyle as manager for women in business. One of her tasks will be to ensure that the needs of the businesses in which women are involved are catered for specifically.

Bank of Ireland says over 20 per cent of all business start-ups are now run by women and 40 per cent of all business start-ups are established by women.

This year small businesses will create up to 51,000 jobs of which almost 50 per cent will be in firms set up by women.

Mr Michael Connolly, general manager, Business and International Banking,

Bank of Ireland, said the women in business sector had been largely ignored by financial institutions. Many women in business want specific products and services designed for them.

He said the bank was very serious about this market. "Women's success in business will ensure our success too," he said. He said the bank would be focusing its energy on micro and start up businesses.

Ms Roz Crowley, president of Network, said there was a growing consensus that the business potential of women is often "underrated, overlooked and, on occasion, ignored". The Finance Minister, Mr McCreevy, said there was a growing number of women in business making a valuable contribution to industry.

The Minister acknowledged that for many couples child-minding was a problem.

He re-affirmed the Government's commitment to introduce tax credits for working families who put their children in child-minding facilities. This entails an allowance of up to £2,000 at the standard tax rate.