Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 June 2012
63 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to introduce measures to support established medium employers, average 60 employees who are struggling for survival in current economic conditions. [30183/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Action Plan for Jobs contains over 270 actions to be implemented by all 15 Government Departments as well as 36 State agencies, and is intended to improve supports for job-creating businesses and remove barriers to employment-creation across the economy. The Plan aims to deliver the Taoiseach's commitment to make Ireland the best small country in the world in which to do business, and increase the number of people at work in Ireland by 100,000 — from 1.8m to 1.9m — by 2016.
The Plan includes a number of measures to improve supports for SMEs including the following:
Access to credit through the introduction of the Temporary Partial Guarantee Scheme, which will make it easier for viable small and medium businesses to access finance.
Closely monitoring the lending targets for the pillar banks and ensuring that these targets are met.
Helping SMEs to improve the quality of their loan applications.
Improved tax incentives have been introduced for small business such as the Employer's PRSI Incentive Scheme and Revenue Job Assist which provide for significant cost savings for employers who take on extra staff and an improvement in the Seed Capital Scheme for new start-ups.
We are actively working to facilitate more SMEs to compete for public procurement opportunities.
There is an increased emphasis on mentoring of SMEs and funding has been provided to support a new Management Development Networks programme.
Other supports which help companies to reduce their costs through greater energy efficiency are available from Enterprise Ireland, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
Enterprise Ireland has established a new Potential Exporters Division to deliver a wide range of initiatives, focussed on helping companies to export to international markets.
To assist the cash flow of businesses, Government Departments and State Agencies (excluding commercial semi-state bodies) are obliged to pay their suppliers within 15 days of receipt of a valid invoice. Any businesses experiencing difficulties in securing such payments should, in the first instance, approach the Government Department or State body concerned. Any failures to comply with the initiative can also be brought to the attention of the relevant Minister with responsibility for the body concerned.
A new website —businessregulation.ie— has been launched and is aimed at reducing the burden of red tape on business by bringing together in one place clear information on regulations imposed by over 30 Government bodies and how to comply with them. The website was developed to address a clear need identified by business for a single source of information on regulatory requirements. The Government will report on the delivery of these measures in its quarterly Progress Reports on the Action Plan for Jobs.
