Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2015
171. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he has considered treating micro-enterprises as distinct from the small and medium enterprise group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19261/15]
View answerIn 2014 the Government reformed the structure of State supports for micro and small enterprises by establishing the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs). This reform was undertaken to provide an enhanced structure offering easy local access to all Government supports for micro and small business in one location. Establishing the LEOs as a first stop shop for start-ups, micro-enterprises and small businesses means that entrepreneurs have one central place to go where they can get information and assistance in identifying and accessing all available supports, such as financial supports or “soft” supports, such as training and mentoring. Start-ups in particular can obtain training and business advice on all aspects of running and developing a business. The majority of businesses that access LEO support are from within the micro-enterprise sector.
While enterprises larger than micro enterprises can access soft supports from the LEOs the suite of LEO financial supports are available only to micro-enterprises i.e. those with fewer than 10 employees. This is in line with the EU definition of micro-enterprises as enterprises that employ fewer than 10 persons and whose annual turnover or annual balance sheet total does not exceed €2m.
In addition Microfinance Ireland (MFI), as a not-for-profit lender, has been established to deliver the Government’s Microenterprise Loan Fun. While all business sectors are eligible to apply to MFI it’s services are confined to the micro enterprise sector.
