Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

For example, they provide considerably more mentoring and advice to start-up companies. They are engaging with a broader group of people than heretofore. The purpose of the county and city enterprise boards is to assist in start-ups to the stage of viability and after that they expand and can come under the scope of Enterprise Ireland if they exceed ten employees. In general the county and city enterprise boards have responded quite quickly to the difficulties. There has been a marked increase in the demand for the services of the county and city enterprise boards through mentoring, advice and seminars on start-ups and the grants available. Údarás na Gaeltachta, Leader and many other agencies are also equipped to give assistance and advice to small and medium-sized enterprises.

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