The Board of Microfinance Ireland (MFI) provides me with Quarterly Reports of progress, and these are published on the websites of both MFI and my Department. Details of individual loan applications and approvals are subject to data protection legislation and it will not be possible to provide further information on same.
I have extracted for the Deputy the following highlight statistics from MFI’s inception on 1 October 2012 to 30 September 2016:-
- Of some 2,275 applications received, loans were approved for 1062;
- Total value of loans approved, €15.766 million for 1,062 micro-enterprises
- Total value of loans drawn down, €13.254 million by 915 micro-enterprises;
- Average value of loan drawn down, just under €15,000;
- Percentage of approvals to micro-enterprises employing 3 or fewer, 81%;
- Percentage of approvals to start-ups (< 18 months in business), 55%; and
- Geographical split - Dublin 21%, and rest of country 79%.
I have also set out in the table:-
- The County distribution by number of approvals; and
- The Sectoral distribution by percentage of approvals.
Geographical Spread
County
|
Received
|
Approved
|
Dublin
|
490
|
225
|
Cork
|
188
|
83
|
Limerick
|
111
|
53
|
Galway
|
90
|
51
|
Meath
|
113
|
47
|
Tipperary
|
98
|
46
|
Wexford
|
85
|
43
|
Mayo
|
65
|
42
|
Kildare
|
84
|
41
|
Cavan
|
76
|
37
|
Sligo
|
48
|
35
|
Waterford
|
81
|
34
|
Wicklow
|
72
|
34
|
Clare
|
66
|
34
|
Kerry
|
67
|
27
|
Westmeath
|
61
|
27
|
Laois
|
60
|
26
|
Longford
|
56
|
24
|
Roscommon
|
48
|
24
|
Louth
|
66
|
22
|
Carlow
|
47
|
20
|
Donegal
|
45
|
19
|
Leitrim
|
37
|
19
|
Offaly
|
41
|
18
|
Kilkenny
|
38
|
16
|
Monaghan
|
42
|
15
|
Totals
|
2275
|
1062
|
Sectoral Spread
Sector
|
%
|
Wholesale & Retail Trade: repair of motor vehicles & motorcycles
|
23
|
Manufacturing
|
14
|
Construction
|
8
|
Arts, Entertainment & recreation
|
8
|
Accommodation & food service activities
|
7
|
Transportation & Storage
|
6
|
Information & Communication
|
6
|
Administrative & Support Services
|
6
|
Professional, Scientific & Technical Activities
|
5
|
Other Service Activities
|
5
|
Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing
|
4
|
Human Health & Social Work Activities
|
3
|
Other
|
3
|
Education
|
2
|