Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 October 2017
44. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if there are incentives for companies changing from instore sales to online sales (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43239/17]
View answerThe Local Enterprise Office (LEO) in Cavan is the ‘first-stop-shop’ for advice and guidance, financial assistance and other ‘soft’ supports such as training and mentoring.
The LEOs provide a ‘signposting’ service in relation to all relevant State supports available through agencies including Revenue, the Credit Review Office and Microfinance Ireland. The LEOs can also offer advice and guidance in areas such as Local Authority rates, Public Procurement and other regulations affecting business.
The LEOs can offer direct grant aid to microenterprises (10 employees or fewer) in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors which, over time, have the potential to develop into strong export entities. Subject to certain eligibility criteria, the LEOs can provide financial assistance within three main categories: Feasibility Grants (investigating the potential of a business idea); Priming Grants (to part-fund a start-up); and Business Development Grants for existing businesses that want to expand. In addition a Technical Assistance Grant may be available for eligible micro-exporter applicants who are seeking to explore alternative markets for their product or service.
Micro-enterprises may also avail of the Trading Online Voucher Scheme (TOVS) from the LEOs. The Scheme offers the opportunity for businesses to develop their website or digital marketing strategy by availing of vouchers of up to €2,500 or 50% of eligible expenditure.
Anyone with a viable business proposal can also use the LEO to make an application to MicroFinance Ireland, which offers support in the form of loans of up to €25,000 to start-ups with viable business propositions that do not meet the conventional risk criteria applied by the banks. Successful applicants can avail of a more favourable interest rate from MFI if they make their application through the LEO.
I should also draw your attention to the ‘Supporting SMEs’ Online Tool, which is a cross-governmental initiative to help start-ups navigate the range of Government business supports for which they could be eligible. The tool is available at www.supportingsmes.ie. By answering the eight questions in the Online Tool, a small business will, in one location, be able to:
- find out which of the over 170 Government business supports from 27 different Government Departments, Agencies and Initiatives are available to them;
- obtain information on the range of Government supports for accessing credit;
- identify their nearest Local Enterprise Office where they can discuss the outcomes of the guide further; and
- download all these filtered results into a document for their further use.
LEO Cavan is located in Cavan Innovation & Technology Centre, Dublin Road, Cavan and can be contacted at 049 4377200 or localenterprise@cavancoco.ie.
