Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
100. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which new enterprises continue to be funded in various forms in order to address the negative impact of Covid-19 and Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52831/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Budget allocation provided to Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices in Budget 2022, will be used to service existing programmes, as well as provide the scope to explore the potential for new schemes to address the ongoing impact of COVID-19 and Brexit.
The Local Enterprise Offices 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 Local Enterprise Office can provide financial assistance within four main categories, Feasibility grants, Priming grants, Business Development grants and Technical Assistance (TAME) grants.
The Local Enterprise Offices also provide a wide range of high-quality business training and capability supports tailored to meet specific business requirements of anyone exploring self-employment as an option or for those who are currently operating a business.
The Start Your Own Business programme guides clients through the various aspects of business and business planning. The objective is to assist clients in critically assessing their business idea, its viability and to decide if they should proceed or take a step back. This programme covers a wide variety of topics designed to equip entrepreneurs to tackle the obstacles and opportunities presented in the current business environment.
Prepare your business for customs are one-day interactive workshops that are open to all businesses and run regionally by Local Enterprise Offices. These provide businesses with a better understanding of the potential impacts, formalities and procedures to be adopted when trading with a country which is outside the Single Market and Custom Unions (a "Third Country").
The Customs Insights course from Enterprise Ireland helps businesses understand the key customs concepts, documentation and processes required to move goods from, to and through the UK. The online course, which is open to companies of all sizes, will provide participants with a firm understanding of the customs implications for their business and the options from Revenue to make this process more efficient.
