Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The short answer is that we can certainly take a look at them. There is nothing excluded here. The fund is generally aimed at Enterprise Ireland and LEO clients and others that would fit the criteria in terms of struggling to raise equity. The full details of the scheme have not been worked out yet and I have no doubt we will be back before this committee or the Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach to discuss it further.

The fund will also be available to companies coming through the high-potential start up unit which covers a broad range of sectors as well. We should be able to capture the companies to which the Chairman refers. The co-operative model is one that we could take a closer look at in general. We have developed this space a lot when it comes to social enterprise and opportunities do exist in that regard. I would welcome a conversation with the Chairman around the co-operative model and social enterprise which are areas that cross different Departments but which we should study further.

In terms of the details of the scheme, we are hoping it will be open to applicants in early 2022. There will be further discussion on this in the Dáil, as well as at this committee and the Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach.