Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 May 1999

Vol. 504 No. 2

Written Answers. - Employment Support Services.

David Stanton

Question:

97 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the financial assistance and other incentives available to people starting their own business; her views on whether these schemes are adequate; the plans, if any, she has to improve the situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11358/99]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Treacy):

Assistance for small businesses and services in Ireland is delivered by a large number of bodies, including county and city enterprise boards, Enterprise Ireland, FÁS, Shannon Development and Údarás na Gaeltachta. In particular, the 35 city and county enterprise boards, which were established in 1993, support the development of small enterprises, ten employees or fewer, through a range of measures, including direct and indirect enterprise supports.

Direct financial assistance is provided by way of: capital grants to a maximum of 50 per cent of the cost of capital and other investment, or £50,000, whichever is the lesser; employment grants of up to £5,000 in respect of each new full- time job created in an eligible enterprise, subject to a limit of ten jobs; feasibility study grants where a maximum of 75 per cent of the cost of preparing a feasibility study and business plan may be provided, subject to an overall limit of £5,000.

As an alternative to direct capital or employment grants, the enterprise boards may take equity in a project subject to an overall maximum financial intervention of £50,000.

The boards also provide business information/ advice, counselling and monitoring and support for the development of management skills.

Since their establishment, the enterprise boards have assisted the creation of an estimated 15,500 jobs. This is firm evidence of the effectiveness of the measures deployed by the enterprise boards to support job creation.

Finally, I should add that a comprehensive guide "Starting Your Own Business" was published by our Department, with assistance from the European Commission in 1998. This publication gives details of the supports available to enterprises and how they may be accessed through the different development agencies.