Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Many enterprise supports are already available. Grants and supports are available to a wide variety of businesses at different stages ranging from establishment to growth and beyond.

The co-operative model is one of a number of legal options that are available to those considering establishing themselves in business, and the different models have their own distinct characteristics. It is, of course, up to each individual operation to choose the model that best suits the nature of the business and the desired ethos of the entity. The Department supports co-operatives in the same way as we support other enterprises. I have no plans to establish a co-operative development unit in the Department at this time.

The Friendly Societies and Industrial and Provident Societies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 was aimed primarily at easing the regulatory burden on co-operative societies, making it easier to start up and run a co-operative as an alternative form of enterprise organisation. It addressed particular problems that were identified in the co-operative sector and helps to ensure this model thrives and grows to its potential to promote appreciation of the co-operative as a form of enterprise organisation.

The Department has a strong focus on developing indigenous businesses. We are obviously working with SMEs, which account for 99.8% of all enterprises in the State, and adopting policies which respond to their needs. There is a range of tailored supports for businesses of all types and includes access to finance, management development, mentoring supports, business development programmes, market supports and so on.

There is a structured dialogue with the SME sector. The same range of supports are available to those who choose to establish co-operatives as are offered to all enterprises and to small and medium-sized businesses.

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