Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 February 2023
42. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the list of business support schemes and initiatives supported by local enterprise offices; the initiatives and schemes that are in development and-or planned to be launched; the funding for same, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9105/23]
View answerThe Local Enterprise Offices have an allocation of €47.78m for 2023. This represents the same core allocation as the 2022 budget but provides an additional €4m in capital funding to pilot both the extension of the LEOs mandate to grant-aid firms with over 10 employees in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors and the introduction of the Small Firms' Investment in Energy Efficiency Scheme (SFIEES). This additional allocation is broken down evenly across both supports with each measure receiving an allocation of €2m in 2023.
The rationale for SFIEES is to support companies to reduce their carbon emissions and overall energy costs by supporting capital investment in low carbon technologies or processes.
The overall capital allocation for LEO programmes in 2023 is €35.8m and it will fund: grant aid for small businesses with export potential; entrepreneurship programmes; and training, advisory and consultancy programmes. The current (non-pay) allocation of €11.98m relates to the contribution to LEO staff salary costs.
The LEOs Measure 1 supports cover direct grant aid which includes the Feasibility Grant, the Priming Grant and the Business Expansion Grants well as the Trading Online Voucher and the Technical Assistance for Microenterprises schemes. Measure 2 Programmes cover the LEOs' training, mentoring and consultancy measures. In addition, there are a number of national initiatives including the "Making it Happen" marketing campaign and Student Enterprise Awards.
|
Category |
2023 Budget Allocation |
|
Measure 1 |
11,000,000 |
|
Measure 1 - Over 10 Framework |
2,000,000 |
|
Trading Online Voucher Scheme |
3,000,000 |
|
Technical Assistance for Micro Exporters |
722,500 |
|
Small Firms Energy Efficiency Scheme (New) |
2,000,000 |
|
Total Measure 1, TOV, TAME & SFIEES |
18,722,500 |
|
Measure 2 |
9,403,037 |
|
Lean4Micro |
1,500,000 |
|
Green4Micro |
1,065,000 |
|
Digital Start |
982,900 |
|
Total Measure 2 Programmes |
12,950,937 |
|
Export Business Adviser |
1,370,000 |
|
Marketing - "Making it Happen" |
1,000,000 |
|
EI LEO Graduate Programme |
1,277,563 |
|
Student Enterprise Education |
150,000 |
|
Stand National Ploughing Event |
135,000 |
|
Showcase |
105,000 |
|
National Enterprise Awards |
55,000 |
|
Customs Training |
50,000 |
