Terence Flanagan
Ceist:215. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the supports available for persons who wish to set up a new business. [14005/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 15 April 2015
Ceisteanna (215)
Freagraí scríofa
In the first instance, existing and prospective businesses can access the new online search tool for SME business supports that was launched last year. The Supporting SMEs Online Tool is a cross-governmental initiative to help Irish start-ups and small businesses navigate the range of Government business supports for which they could be eligible. The Supporting SMEs Online Tool can be accessed at www.actionplanforjobs.ie. The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the first-stop-shop service assisting in delivering business growth and jobs for the small and micro-enterprise sector. The LEOs are the first port of call in terms of advice, training, signposting to other support providers and, in certain circumstances, grant support for anyone who wishes to start or expand a business.
The LEOs themselves provide a range of financial and non-financial supports to help enterprises at start-up or during business expansion phases. It should be noted, though, that the LEOs generally only grant assist enterprises in the manufacturing or internationally traded services sector, which over time can develop into strong export entities. However, there are other non-financial supports available, such as mentoring and training, and the LEO staff can advise as to which supports would be most appropriate to an enterprise’s situation.
In addition, any business can use the LEOs as a gateway to accessing finance from Micro Finance Ireland (MFI), which offers support in the form of loans of up to €25,000 to start-up, newly established or growing microenterprises employing less than 10 people with viable business propositions that do not meet the conventional risk criteria applied by the banks. Applications for the Microfinance Fund should be channelled through the local LEO. Further information can be found on the LEO website at www.localenterprise.ie.
Enterprise Ireland is the national agency under my aegis with responsibility for the development of Irish enterprise, deepening Ireland’s footprint in world markets, and supporting employment creation in our economy.
Enterprise Ireland works to increase the number of companies starting-up, succeeding, expanding, exporting and ultimately creating jobs in Ireland. EI’s support system for young companies includes help with business planning, mentoring and development advice, feasibility funding and finance, often in the form of equity investment, as appropriate to the founder’s ambitions and the company’s potential and stage of growth.
Enterprise Ireland’s 10 regional offices work closely with entrepreneurs, local development agencies and local representative bodies offering a wide range of supports for entrepreneurship. Enterprise Ireland is also actively engaged in creating and maintaining relevant networks, which provide a pipeline of early stage entrepreneur enquiries.
The Government’s Action Plan for Jobs sets out a comprehensive set of measures to support entrepreneurship, SMEs and the self-employed. One of the key priorities in the 2015 Plan is driving implementation of the actions in the National Entrepreneurship Statement, which was published last October, and to achieve the ambitious targets set out for a 25% increase in the number of start-ups and in the scaling and sustainability of new enterprises. The Action Plan for Jobs sets out a range of actions that will positively impact on entrepreneurship including measures to promote entrepreneurship in the areas of education and research, business environment and supports, innovation and access to finance, networks and mentoring, and access to markets.