Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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260. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide a schedule of the grants, grant-aid, low-cost borrowing and funding that his Department can provide to an association (details supplied), heading under which the grants, grant-aid, low cost borrowing and funding is provided; the maximum amount that can be accessed; and the dates on which the schemes operate. [32275/23]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides supports to businesses through the enterprise agencies. Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices provide direct financial assistance to businesses in the manufacturing and internationally trading services sectors; and advisory and training services to enterprises including those in the locally traded sectors.

The recently redeveloped supportingSMEs.gov.ie portal acts as a single information hub for SME information and assistance. The portal includes quick links to targeted thematic areas of interest such as Scaling, Access to Finance, Exporting, Climate, Skills and Digitalisation.

In terms of direct interventions, the Local Enterprise Offices provide various training and advisory programmes to small businesses, as well as acting as a ‘first stop shop’ providing signposting for all firms to find out about resources and programmes available from government departments and agencies. To support accessibility and efficiency, the LEO network communicate the broad range of government programmes and advisory services available for firms, including locally trading firms.

The LEOs will continue to enhance their advisory services for locally trading firms to improve productivity particularly around digitalisation and reducing energy and carbon emissions, which will have positive spillover effects on the wider economy.

I would encourage any business to visit the supportingsmes.gov.ie website or their Local Enterprise Office to see what supports may be available to them.