Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Neville asked about training courses. LEOs provide sales courses to companies on an ongoing basis. It is a very important part of their work. For any company to have a plan in place, it needs to be able to market what it is producing. If a company has to access finance, ensuring it has a proper sales programme will be very much part of its plan. Our trading online vouchers encourage many small companies to trade online, which is important.

In addition to microfinance, people must also consider the commercial banks as a means of accessing finance. Ulster Bank is doing a promotion to support women with ideas. The Minister, Deputy Mitchell O'Connor, would support this. AIB has its "We're Backing Brave" campaign for entrepreneurs with ideas. Bank of Ireland is running enterprise weekends all over the country and these have proved very successful. I attended two of them in County Clare. All the local businesses come together for a family weekend and they invite many sports personalities to attend and showcase many small industries. I am sure they will take place in all constituencies. Much is being done. Our goal is to ensure we tell people what is available for start-up companies.