Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 January 2019
291. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of applicants that have applied for support pursuant to the various Brexit schemes; the amounts expended on each scheme to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3106/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department and its agencies are working to provide extensive supports, schemes and advice to ensure that businesses are prepared for Brexit. These measures aim to assist businesses in identifying key risk areas and the practical preparatory actions to be taken over the coming weeks.
In addition to the direct supports outlined in the table below, my Department and I have been very active in the 'Getting Ireland Brexit Ready' public information campaign. This campaign includes workshop events throughout the country aimed primarily at business and people most impacted by Brexit. Officials from my Department and agencies also participated in the Getting Ireland Brexit Ready events, which included Enterprise Ireland, IDA, the LEOs, NSAI and the HSA.
Further to the below, increased funding has been allocated to Brexit-related support from my Department and its agencies as part of Budget 2019. An additional €5 million capital funding has been allocated to the Local Enterprise Offices, an increase of 22%, and a further €1 million allocated to Intertrade Ireland to help SMEs prepare for the particular North-South challenges associated with Brexit. Additional resources have also been distributed across Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland and the Health and Safety Authority.
The Future Growth Loan Scheme was announced in Budget 2019. This scheme is jointly funded by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Loans of €50,000 to €3m will be available, with loans of under €500,000 being provided on an unsecured basis. The scheme will be available to eligible Irish businesses, including those in the primary agriculture and seafood sectors, to support strategic, long-term investment in a post-Brexit environment. The SBCI has issued an “Open Call” for financial institutions to apply by 11 February 2019 for designation as a lending partner under the Scheme. It is expected that this Scheme will be operational in early 2019.
While many businesses have taken preparedness actions, a number have yet to do so. It is vital that businesses prepare themselves for Brexit impacts and take actions to mitigate. Firms that do business with the UK, whether buying goods or exporting products, should examine their supply chains to determine their vulnerabilities and take appropriate action.
|
Scheme |
Uptake (18.01) |
Expenditure on Scheme (18.01) |
|
Brexit Loan Scheme |
375 applications received, 336 approved by SBCI, 65 Loans progressed to sanction at bank level to a value of €14.94 million. |
€23 million Exchequer Funding (€14 million from my DBEI and €9 million from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. |
|
Enterprise Ireland Brexit Scorecard - online platform for Irish companies to self-assess their exposure to Brexit |
3,902 Brexit Scorecards have been completed. 681 LEO clients have completed the scorecard. |
2017 Expenditure: €25,568 2018 Expenditure: €11,261 Total Expenditure: €36,829 |
|
Enterprise Ireland Be Prepared Grant |
155 Be Prepared Grants have been approved |
2017 Expenditure: €10,0002018 Expenditure: €178,8712019 Expenditure to date: €12,623 Total Expenditure: €201,494 |
|
Enterprise Ireland Market Discovery Fund - A support to EI clients to research new markets |
209 projects have been approved under this initiative |
Market Discovery fund was launched in 20182018 Expenditure: €227,7432019 Expenditure to date: €108,914 Total Expenditure: €336,657 |
|
Enterprise Ireland Agile Innovation Fund - Gives rapid fast-track access to innovation funding |
39 Agile Innovation projects have been approved |
Agile Innovation Fund was launched in 2018 2018 Expenditure: €385,2642019 Expenditure to date: €51,892 Total Expenditure: €437,156 |
|
Enterprise Ireland Brexit Advisory Clinics |
11 Brexit Advisory Clinics have been run with approx. 915 in attendance |
2017 Expenditure: €55,7972018 Expenditure: €166,6982019 Expenditure to date: €1,722 Total Expenditure: €224,217 |
|
Enterprise Ireland Brexit “Act On Programme” – A support funding the engagement of a consultant to devise report with recommendations to help clients address weaknesses and improve resilience |
165 “Act on” Plans have been completed |
2018 Expenditure: €330,000 |
|
Enterprise Ireland Strategic Consultancy Grant – A grant to assist EI clients to hire a strategic consultant for a set period |
1,049 Strategic Consultancy Grants have been approved |
2016 Expenditure: €278,1372017 Expenditure: €482,6172018 Expenditure: €456,1982019 Expenditure to date: €61,764Total Expenditure: €1,278,716 |
|
Enterprise Ireland Brexit-exposed companies that have completed sustainable growth plans |
706 |
N/A These growth plans are part of the Client Engagement Model |
|
Local Enterprise Office Technical Assistance Grant for Micro Export - an incentive for LEO clients to explore and develop new market opportunities |
419 clients were approved assistance under the Technical Assistance Grant |
€365,774 |
|
Local Enterprise Office LEAN for Micro - The LEO Lean4Micro offer was developed in collaboration between the EI Lean department and the LEOs to tailor the EI Lean offer for LEO micro enterprise clients |
221 LEO clients have participated in the programme |
€518,411 |
|
Local Enterprise Office Mentoring |
471 mentoring participants solely focused on Brexit |
No specific amount is allocated to Brexit mentoring specifically, it is part of the overall Measure 2 allocation. Similarly, the amount spent is not categorised in the LEO financial reports. LEO schemes are demand driven. |
|
Local Enterprise Office Brexit Seminars/Events |
3,996 Participants at the Brexit Information events |
|
|
InterTradeIreland Brexit Advisory Service |
4,175 SMEs have directly engaged with the Brexit Advisory Service in 2018 |
Approx. €1,260,586 |
|
InterTradeIreland Brexit Start to Plan Vouchers |
There have been 811 applications, with 657 approved and 25 still pending assessment. |
Approx. €422,592 |
|
Pilot Online Retail Scheme administered by Enterprise Ireland |
Applications are currently being assessed by Enterprise Ireland and the successful applicants will be announced in Q1 2019. There will also be a second call in 2019 |
Total fund of €1.25m. The first call opened on 24 October and closed on the 5 December. |
