Ms Adrienne Murray:

In response to the Deputy’s other questions, on the weekly levels of activity since our third quarter report, we ran a national advertising campaign. We recommenced being present at events from the National Ploughing Championships to a range of other events around the country, including Roscommon Business Network International, Fingal Enterprise Week, Momentum Business Launchpad, the National Franchise Expo, Westmeath CEB Access to Finance, Portlaoise National Women’s Enterprise Day, Your Business Day, Kildare Access to Finance, the One Stop Shop for Business with all Government Departments and North Dublin Chamber Expo. Upcoming events for November and December include the Midlands Thinktank, Meath West SME Event, Meath Access to Finance, LCD Enterprise Officers in Mallow, Carlow Senior Entrepreneurs Conference and the Cork Enterprise European Network. We are adding to those events daily. We will be represented at those events with either a stand, a speaking opportunity or panel discussion or, what is more effective, on a credit clinic basis, meeting potential MFI applicants one-to-one. That gives the Deputy a flavour of our campaign.

Having looked back at the spend on advertising, particularly national advertising, since the launch we are in no doubt that there is a correlation between that and the applications we see, perhaps after a two- or three-week lag. There were five applications in each of the first two weeks of October, then eight, six, and last week 13. That 13 is a peak that is consistent with advertising campaigns.

We are considering a small amount of money for the community-based schemes, the LDCs and small loan applications that can help to sustain or create one job. These people are on the back-to-work allowance. They may be long-term unemployed and in the semi-skilled area. A small loan of up to €5,000 may be enough to support them. It is early days. We have received ten applications and have approved nine of those. The early insights are very positive. Mentoring is vital for these people. That includes training and pre- and post-mentoring. LDCs are sponsored by the Department of Social Protection and the two with which we are running a pilot will make representations on the pilot’s findings to the Department. Everyone acknowledges and recognises that for any small business, and even more so for people who are long-term unemployed, as well as youth entrepreneurs, mentoring and training are essential to sustain the businesses long-term.

In response to the question about heightening awareness through the Revenue Commissioners in the past couple of weeks, we have distributed more than 10,000 brochures at different events. We have links with the Department of Social Protection under which MFI leaflets are placed in their offices. We have also made contact with the Money Advice and Budgeting Service offices and we will take on board the Deputy’s excellent suggestion of linking in with the Revenue Commissioners, who may be able to do a mail shot of our leaflet.