Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 7 September 2018
520. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to improve supports available to small and medium-sized businesses run by Irish persons based abroad who wish to move their operations back here. [35793/18]
View answerThere are a broad range of Government supports available to SMEs to help them start, grow and succeed, including access to finance, management development, mentoring, business development, market supports and trade promotion.
The online tool - www.supportingsmes.ie is a cross-governmental initiative to help Irish start-ups and small businesses navigate the range of Government supports. By answering eight quick questions in the online tool, a small business can find out which of the over 170 Government business supports from over 30 different Government departments and agencies are available to them.
The Online Tool also assists business in locating their nearest Local Enterprise Office (LEO). The network of 31 LEOs provides a first stop shop for small businesses seeking supports and for people who wish to start their own business. The LEO financial supports are aimed at micro-enterprises (less than 10 employees). However, businesses with more employees can seek guidance and non-financial supports from the LEOs. For more information please visit www.localenterprise.ie.
Back for Business is a new pilot initiative to foster and support entrepreneurial activity among emigrants returning or recently returned to live in Ireland. This innovative initiative is funded through the Emigrant Support Programme by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which seeks to facilitate in practical ways those who left Ireland and want to return home. The initiative addresses the challenges that all early stage entrepreneurs face with a particular focus on the additional barriers and challenges faced by those who have been out of the country for some time. This can often result in their local knowledge, contact base and professional and personal networks being less developed than those of typical entrepreneurs. Back for Business aims to bridge this gap. For more information on the Back for Business initiative please visit www.backforbusiness.com.
