The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment commissioned the OECD to undertake a report to assess inclusive entrepreneurship training in Ireland and provide recommendations, based on international best practice, on how to enhance the provision of training interventions to improve their accessibility and impact.
Based on the full report, DETE identified three priority actions to be taken to strengthen entrepreneurship training for people from under-represented groups;
1. Implement Referral System for Inclusive Entrepreneurship Training
2. Increase the Availability of Tailored Entrepreneurship Training
3. Professionalise Coaching and Mentoring
The Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment has been engaging with the Centre of Excellence in Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices to progress these priority actions.
The Local Enterprise Offices are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports for anyone, including people with disabilities, intending to start or grow a business. In that regard, the LEOs provide a ‘signposting’ service in relation to all relevant State supports available through agencies such as the Department of Social Protection, Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the Revenue Commissioners, Education and Training Boards, the Credit Review Office and Microfinance Ireland.
In terms of direct financial support, the Local Enterprise Office grant supports are available to all entrepreneurs provided their business meets the eligibility criteria of the support they are applying for. Furthermore, Local Enterprise Offices can provide additional support to entrepreneurs such as one to one mentoring or accommodations to assist with the completion of grant application forms or to complete training courses such as Start Your Own Business.
The LEOs also collaborate on the Entrepreneurship for People with Disabilities course delivered by TU Dublin, which is open to people with disabilities and who have a business idea that they wish to pursue as a sustainable enterprise. Each participant is assigned a LEO business mentor.
In addition to the above, the Department of Social Protection provides grants to individuals with disabilities to assist them in their employment. This includes the Reasonable Accommodation Fund which consists of the Workplace Equipment and Adaptation Grant, the Job Interview Interpreter Grant, the Personal Reader Grant and the Employee Retention Grant.
