The Central Statistics Office publishes data relating to newly registered businesses on an annual basis since 2008, as part of their Business Demography reporting. The data from 2008 to 2015 is contained in Appendix 1.
Enterprise Ireland is the state agency under my aegis with responsibility for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets. Enterprise Ireland works in partnership with Irish enterprises to help them start, innovate, scale and win export sales in global markets.
A key focus of Enterprise Ireland’s activity is supporting start-ups and the start-up ecosystem as illustrated by the following EI programmes and service level agreements:
- Service Level Agreement in place with Local Enterprise Offices to support micro-enterprise.
Appendix 2 below presents the number of enterprise start-ups (High Potential Start Ups and Companies supported by the Competitive Start Funds) supported directly by Enterprise Ireland in each of the years 2006 to 2016, by sector.
The Local Enterprise Offices also promote a culture of entrepreneurship and support start–ups in their local area. Details of the number of LEO enterprise start-ups by sector in each of the years 2014 to 2016 are set out in Appendix 3 below. These figures are based on the number of priming grants issued by the LEOs in the years in question. (It should be noted that the LEO client database was reviewed as part of the process of restructuring the enterprise supports for micro-enterprises and so comparative data for the years prior to 2014 is not available.)
Details of the number of applications in the Best New Idea and Best Start-up Categories of the annual Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) competition, which has been run by the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) since 2014, are set out in the table below. The purpose of the IBYE awards is to promote entrepreneurship as a career choice among young people. Information detailing the breakdown of the applications into individual enterprise sectors is not collated.
Appendix 1: Central Statistics Office data
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
All legal forms of ownership
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Business economy excluding activities of holding companies (B to N,-642)
|
15,442
|
17,846
|
13,954
|
14,344
|
15,080
|
13,824
|
16,257
|
18,100
|
Industry (B to E)
|
732
|
970
|
778
|
895
|
925
|
968
|
1,110
|
1,186
|
Mining and quarrying (B)
|
23
|
33
|
..
|
..
|
20
|
26
|
18
|
18
|
Manufacturing (C)
|
620
|
777
|
650
|
770
|
806
|
841
|
997
|
1,060
|
Food products, beverages and tobacco (10 to 12)
|
..
|
91
|
73
|
104
|
115
|
133
|
160
|
182
|
Textiles and wearing apparel (13,14)
|
41
|
42
|
..
|
45
|
54
|
46
|
51
|
65
|
Leather and related products (15)
|
..
|
..
|
..
|
..
|
..
|
..
|
..
|
..
|
Wood and wood products, except furniture (16)
|
36
|
34
|
28
|
49
|
48
|
46
|
79
|
79
|
Paper and paper products printing and reproduction of recorded media (17,18)
|
67
|
92
|
71
|
75
|
91
|
97
|
100
|
86
|
Coke and refined petroleum products (19)
|
..
|
3
|
..
|
..
|
0
|
..
|
2
|
..
|
Chemicals and pharmaceuticals (20,21)
|
17
|
27
|
18
|
24
|
..
|
29
|
31
|
..
|
Rubber and plastic products (22)
|
..
|
20
|
22
|
24
|
22
|
..
|
..
|
18
|
Other non-metallic mineral products (23)
|
46
|
48
|
42
|
42
|
42
|
34
|
46
|
49
|
Basic metals and fabricated metal products (24,25)
|
164
|
205
|
176
|
176
|
132
|
116
|
164
|
168
|
Computer, electronic, optical and electrical equipment (26,27)
|
24
|
39
|
35
|
40
|
35
|
52
|
48
|
55
|
Machinery and equipment n.e.c. (28)
|
..
|
..
|
21
|
18
|
23
|
31
|
33
|
39
|
Transport equipment (29,30)
|
..
|
12
|
8
|
11
|
..
|
13
|
13
|
20
|
Furniture and other manufacturing (31,32)
|
72
|
90
|
79
|
99
|
102
|
108
|
119
|
124
|
Repair and installation of machinery and equipment (33)
|
55
|
50
|
38
|
56
|
104
|
117
|
129
|
131
|
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (D)
|
23
|
87
|
56
|
..
|
34
|
..
|
31
|
43
|
Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities (E)
|
66
|
73
|
..
|
67
|
66
|
..
|
64
|
64
|
Construction (F)
|
3,443
|
3,573
|
2,467
|
2,589
|
2,757
|
2,473
|
3,526
|
4,226
|
Business economy services excluding activities of holding companies (G to N,-642)
|
11,268
|
13,304
|
10,709
|
10,860
|
11,397
|
10,384
|
11,621
|
12,689
|
Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G)
|
2,453
|
2,758
|
2,552
|
2,683
|
2,704
|
2,304
|
2,468
|
2,573
|
Motor trades (45)
|
430
|
427
|
455
|
463
|
508
|
428
|
510
|
516
|
Wholesale trade (46)
|
655
|
883
|
664
|
708
|
776
|
663
|
667
|
708
|
Wholesale of information and communication equipment (465)
|
24
|
24
|
26
|
23
|
17
|
24
|
27
|
..
|
Retail trade (47)
|
1,367
|
1,449
|
1,433
|
1,512
|
1,420
|
1,213
|
1,291
|
1,349
|
Retail sale in non-specialised stores (471)
|
226
|
239
|
227
|
229
|
224
|
226
|
218
|
248
|
Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (472)
|
164
|
213
|
205
|
227
|
205
|
153
|
171
|
165
|
Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores (473)
|
40
|
39
|
48
|
52
|
33
|
31
|
35
|
30
|
Retail sale of information and communication equipment in specialised stores (474)
|
..
|
67
|
69
|
44
|
45
|
37
|
47
|
39
|
Retail sale of other household equipment in specialised stores (475)
|
168
|
139
|
143
|
138
|
141
|
108
|
102
|
113
|
Retail sale of cultural and recreation goods in specialised stores (476)
|
86
|
98
|
105
|
79
|
71
|
62
|
51
|
76
|
Retail sale of other goods in specialised stores (477)
|
518
|
534
|
506
|
577
|
466
|
407
|
447
|
444
|
Retail sale via stalls and markets (478)
|
..
|
20
|
20
|
33
|
48
|
43
|
48
|
43
|
Retail trade not in stores, stalls or markets (479)
|
103
|
100
|
110
|
134
|
187
|
145
|
172
|
191
|
Transportation and storage (H)
|
1,665
|
1,454
|
1,047
|
981
|
1,005
|
805
|
1,026
|
1,044
|
Land transport (49)
|
1,366
|
1,097
|
743
|
678
|
689
|
534
|
750
|
..
|
Water transport (50)
|
..
|
..
|
10
|
..
|
10
|
..
|
..
|
..
|
Air transport (51)
|
11
|
..
|
3
|
..
|
7
|
..
|
..
|
5
|
Warehousing and support activities for transportation (52)
|
..
|
139
|
109
|
122
|
118
|
89
|
86
|
132
|
Postal and courier activities (53)
|
206
|
199
|
182
|
160
|
181
|
160
|
175
|
197
|
Accommodation and food service activities (I)
|
1,167
|
1,159
|
1,137
|
1,232
|
1,205
|
1,142
|
1,251
|
1,452
|
Accommodation (55)
|
124
|
170
|
100
|
127
|
123
|
128
|
188
|
240
|
Food and beverage service activities (56)
|
1,042
|
989
|
1,037
|
1,105
|
1,082
|
1,014
|
1,063
|
1,212
|
Information and communication (J)
|
969
|
1,154
|
1,108
|
1,181
|
1,275
|
1,249
|
1,333
|
1,375
|
Publishing activities (58)
|
116
|
133
|
133
|
122
|
131
|
134
|
109
|
108
|
Picture, video and television programmes, sound recording and music publishing activities (59)
|
154
|
193
|
166
|
167
|
181
|
189
|
213
|
229
|
Programming and broadcasting activities (60)
|
6
|
..
|
..
|
..
|
..
|
18
|
24
|
23
|
Telecommunications (61)
|
49
|
75
|
64
|
63
|
45
|
36
|
57
|
60
|
Computer programming, consultancy and related activities (62)
|
617
|
709
|
700
|
780
|
863
|
832
|
886
|
904
|
Computer programming, consultancy and related activities (620)
|
617
|
709
|
700
|
780
|
863
|
832
|
886
|
904
|
Computer programming activities (6201)
|
128
|
..
|
208
|
154
|
261
|
271
|
294
|
..
|
Computer consultancy activities (6202)
|
327
|
315
|
289
|
422
|
428
|
385
|
408
|
384
|
Computer facilities management activities (6203)
|
4
|
..
|
0
|
..
|
6
|
5
|
4
|
..
|
Other information technology and computer service activities (6209)
|
159
|
202
|
203
|
..
|
168
|
170
|
180
|
..
|
Information service activities (63)
|
26
|
..
|
..
|
..
|
..
|
40
|
45
|
51
|
Financial and insurance activities excluding activities of holding companies (K-642)
|
437
|
898
|
448
|
385
|
519
|
639
|
418
|
544
|
Financial service activities excluding activities of holding companies (64-642)
|
209
|
502
|
232
|
222
|
350
|
448
|
251
|
341
|
Insurance, reinsurance and pension funding, except compulsory social security (65)
|
34
|
49
|
21
|
20
|
17
|
17
|
18
|
20
|
Activities auxiliary to financial services and insurance activities (66)
|
194
|
348
|
195
|
143
|
152
|
174
|
149
|
183
|
Real estate activities (L)
|
934
|
1,407
|
925
|
855
|
915
|
862
|
1,171
|
1,406
|
Real estate activities (68)
|
934
|
1,407
|
925
|
855
|
915
|
862
|
1,171
|
1,406
|
Buying and selling of own real estate (681)
|
19
|
..
|
18
|
11
|
..
|
..
|
27
|
32
|
Buying and selling of own real estate (6810)
|
19
|
..
|
18
|
11
|
..
|
..
|
27
|
32
|
Renting and operating of own or leased real estate (682)
|
525
|
..
|
584
|
595
|
631
|
..
|
931
|
1,064
|
Renting and operating of own or leased real estate (6820)
|
525
|
..
|
584
|
595
|
631
|
..
|
931
|
1,064
|
Real estate activities on a fee or contract basis (683)
|
389
|
513
|
323
|
249
|
..
|
267
|
213
|
310
|
Real estate agencies (6831)
|
122
|
132
|
83
|
67
|
70
|
55
|
63
|
74
|
Management of real estate on a fee or contract basis (6832)
|
267
|
381
|
240
|
182
|
..
|
212
|
150
|
236
|
Professional, scientific and technical activities (M)
|
2,579
|
3,343
|
2,556
|
2,643
|
2,715
|
2,431
|
2,800
|
3,000
|
Legal and accounting activities (69)
|
604
|
840
|
634
|
663
|
557
|
432
|
563
|
519
|
Legal activities (691)
|
220
|
311
|
239
|
236
|
211
|
146
|
212
|
190
|
Legal activities (6910)
|
220
|
311
|
239
|
236
|
211
|
146
|
212
|
190
|
Accounting, bookkeeping and auditing activities, tax consultancy (692)
|
384
|
529
|
395
|
428
|
346
|
286
|
351
|
329
|
Accounting, bookkeeping and auditing activities, tax consultancy (6920)
|
384
|
529
|
395
|
428
|
346
|
286
|
351
|
329
|
Activities of head offices, management consultancy activities (70)
|
601
|
747
|
695
|
689
|
743
|
780
|
818
|
960
|
Activities of head offices (701)
|
..
|
46
|
18
|
13
|
26
|
29
|
25
|
64
|
Activities of head offices (7010)
|
..
|
46
|
18
|
13
|
26
|
29
|
25
|
64
|
Management consultancy activities (702)
|
..
|
701
|
677
|
676
|
717
|
751
|
793
|
897
|
Public relations and communication activities (7021)
|
46
|
39
|
40
|
20
|
28
|
30
|
28
|
30
|
Business and other management consultancy activities (7022)
|
..
|
662
|
637
|
656
|
689
|
721
|
765
|
867
|
Architectural and engineering activities technical testing and analysis (71)
|
534
|
628
|
480
|
494
|
610
|
497
|
502
|
..
|
Architectural and engineering activities and related technical consultancy (711)
|
513
|
597
|
456
|
469
|
584
|
476
|
486
|
..
|
Architectural activities (7111)
|
137
|
203
|
203
|
168
|
133
|
116
|
147
|
131
|
Engineering activities and related technical consultancy (7112)
|
375
|
393
|
253
|
301
|
450
|
360
|
339
|
..
|
Technical testing and analysis (712)
|
21
|
32
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
21
|
17
|
15
|
Technical testing and analysis (7120)
|
21
|
32
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
21
|
17
|
15
|
Scientific research and development (72)
|
36
|
101
|
35
|
45
|
48
|
55
|
55
|
..
|
Research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering (721)
|
..
|
84
|
26
|
34
|
38
|
44
|
..
|
..
|
Research and experimental development on biotechnology (7211)
|
..
|
20
|
..
|
..
|
13
|
11
|
9
|
13
|
Other research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering (7219)
|
22
|
64
|
..
|
..
|
25
|
34
|
..
|
..
|
Research and experimental development on social sciences and humanities (722)
|
..
|
17
|
9
|
11
|
10
|
11
|
..
|
21
|
Research and experimental development on social sciences and humanities (7220)
|
..
|
17
|
9
|
11
|
10
|
11
|
..
|
21
|
Advertising and market research (73)
|
108
|
142
|
119
|
138
|
131
|
134
|
150
|
164
|
Advertising (731)
|
85
|
116
|
98
|
120
|
..
|
119
|
..
|
149
|
Advertising agencies (7311)
|
78
|
..
|
90
|
..
|
117
|
110
|
130
|
138
|
Media representation (7312)
|
7
|
..
|
8
|
..
|
..
|
9
|
..
|
11
|
Market research and public opinion polling (732)
|
23
|
26
|
21
|
18
|
..
|
15
|
..
|
15
|
Market research and public opinion polling (7320)
|
23
|
26
|
21
|
18
|
..
|
15
|
..
|
15
|
Other professional, scientific and technical activities (74)
|
649
|
849
|
562
|
560
|
589
|
488
|
661
|
665
|
Specialised design activities (741)
|
197
|
292
|
217
|
257
|
228
|
166
|
246
|
244
|
Specialised design activities (7410)
|
197
|
292
|
217
|
257
|
228
|
166
|
246
|
244
|
Photographic activities (742)
|
98
|
101
|
108
|
114
|
136
|
112
|
159
|
151
|
Photographic activities (7420)
|
98
|
101
|
108
|
114
|
136
|
112
|
159
|
151
|
Translation and interpretation activities (743)
|
57
|
62
|
36
|
55
|
51
|
39
|
63
|
60
|
Translation and interpretation activities (7430)
|
57
|
62
|
36
|
55
|
51
|
39
|
63
|
60
|