Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2012
428. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to engage with local County Enterprise Boards, Enterprise Ireland and others to help support youth enterprise here; his views on whether further targeted supports are required to foster the talent and ideas of our young persons to allow them develop business ideas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47725/12]
View answerYoung Entrepreneurs can, as their first port of call, contact their local County or City Enterprise Board (CEB) to discuss what options may be available to them in relation to their proposed business venture. The CEBs provide both financial and/or non-financial assistance to microenterprises in the start-up and expansion stages. Encouraging and promoting a youth enterprise culture is an important area of activity for the CEBs. Through various programmes and initiatives, the CEBs seek to influence student attitudes in favour of enterprise. Examples of initiatives provided by the CEBs at both primary and secondary level include the annual Student Enterprise Awards, as well local or inter-County initiatives such as Exploring Enterprise, Celtic Enterprise and Bí Gnóthach Enterprise. Over 20,000 students now participate annually in the various CEB–supported programmes implemented in the education sector. Contact details for the CEBs can be found on www.enterpriseboards.ie.
The ‘Think outside the Box’ competition, co-sponsored by Enterprise Ireland, Invest Northern Ireland, Cruickshank Intellectual Property Attorneys, Mammoth Advertising, Grant Thornton and Intel is open to all full time Third Level students in the island of Ireland. The competition offers Third Level students from all academic disciplines and courses, the opportunity to realise their entrepreneurial ambitions and is designed to encourage innovation, promote enterprise and foster a spirit of entrepreneurship among Third Level students. As well as €30,000 in cash prizes, the competition offers €30,000 in consultancy to help the finalists make a serious start at making their idea a commercial reality. This year, “Think outside the Box” attracted submissions from over 360 Third Level students from colleges across Ireland. Enterprise Ireland will continue to participate in the “Think outside the Box” competition in 2013.
Enterprise Ireland also supports young Third Level researchers through a number of initiatives including: the Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation Fund; Innovation Vouchers; Innovation Partnerships; Applied Research Enhancement Centres; Technology Centres; Campus Incubation Units and FP7. Contact details for Enterprise Ireland can be found at the Agency’s website www.enterprise-ireland.com.
In addition the Government established the Microfinance Loan Fund on 27 September 2012 to improve access to credit for entrepreneurs and micro-enterprises and to facilitate the growth and expansion of viable businesses from all industry sectors which have been refused access to credit by banks. The Fund has a significant entrepreneurship focus and is open to entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs of all ages. Microfinance Ireland (MFI), the company set up to operate the Fund, will work closely with the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) / Local Enterprise Offices which provide assistance with training and preparing business plans for entrepreneurs. Microfinance Ireland, the CEBs and Enterprise Ireland are very conscious of the particular difficulties young entrepreneurs face with regard to credit history, previous business experience etc. and where they can assist young entrepreneurs, they will do so. However, the potential viability of the business proposal is the dominant factor in any credit decision made by Microfinance Ireland.
