Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 May 2018
111. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the supports available for expanding existing businesses; the further grant aid which is available for a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19205/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe agencies under my Department primarily Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Office, have a range of supports available and provide advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports for anyone who intends to start or grow their own business.
In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, my department has made enquiries and the firm in question is a client of LEO Leitrim. The LEOs can offer direct grant aid to microenterprises (10 employees or fewer) in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors which, over time, have the potential to develop into strong export entities. Subject to certain eligibility criteria, the LEOs can provide financial assistance within three main categories: feasibility grants (investigating the potential of a business idea); priming grants (to part-fund a start-up); and business development grants for existing businesses that want to expand.
I understand that the company in question has received support on a number of occasions over the past 10 years.
Most recently the business in question has been approved for a business expansion grant in respect of 5 new jobs.
I should also add, anyone with a viable business proposal can also use the LEO to make an application to Microfinance Ireland (MFI) or directly contact MFI themselves. MFI was established under the Action Plan for Jobs in 2012, with the purpose of supporting job creation through the provision of loan finance to micro-enterprises. MFI offers support in the form of loans of up to €25,000 to start-ups with viable business propositions that do not meet the conventional risk criteria applied by the banks. Further information on Microfinance Ireland is available at http://www.microfinanceireland.ie/.
Additionally, there is the Supporting SMEs website which contains over 100 possible supports (financial and non-financial) which may be available to a particular SME. Further information is available at https://www.supportingsmes.ie/BusinessDetails.aspx.
Further information on possible business supports is available from https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/Which-support-is-for-you/ . This a good first point of contact in order to establish the potential supports that may be available.
