Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 October 2021
244. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will address concerns (details supplied); the business supports that may be available to severely impacted cottage industries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50654/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMany cottage industries, self-employed sole traders, and micro-enterprises that are reliant upon the larger events industry, continue to be impacted by the effects of COVID-19 restrictions.
It is certainly hoped that a further lifting of restrictions on 22nd October will help ease the burden on these enterprises, but we must follow the advice provided by NPHET for the benefit of society as a whole.
My Colleague, Heather Humphreys, Minister for Social Protection, will provide guidance through her department on the possibility of extension of the PUP payment.
I would advise businesses such as this to contact their Local Enterprise Office. The Local Enterprise Offices are a ‘first-stop-shop’ for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports to small enterprises and act as a ‘signposting’ service for all government supports available to the SME sector and can provide information/referrals to other relevant bodies under agreed protocols e.g., Revenue, Micro Finance Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, LEADER, and Enterprise Ireland.
The Local Enterprise Office Mentor programme can provide business owners with invaluable advice and guidance, covering areas such as business planning, expansion, and access to finance.
Business support schemes such as the Trading Online Voucher Scheme, which provides a voucher of up to €2,500 to help businesses develop their e-commerce capability, and the Technical Assistance for Micro Exporters (TAME), which offers a grant of up to €2,500 to help businesses to part-fund the costs that can be incurred in investigating and researching export markets, can provide micro-enterprises with access to a wider marketplace for their product.
The LEO Mentors can also assist businesses owners with applications to Micro-finance Ireland (MFI) , which is a not-for-profit lender that offers small business loans of between €2,000 and €25,000 (unsecured). Loans for commercially viable proposals can be used to help fund start-up costs, working capital or business expansion and by applying through their Local Enterprise Office, clients can avail of a 1% reduction in the interest rate charged.
