John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On Friday last, my colleague the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Humphreys, published new Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, research commissioned by my Department on the potential impacts of Brexit on our trade relationships with the UK, and it was stated then, and I say it again, that the Government is committed to ensuring the continued growth and resilience of Irish enterprise after Brexit by helping firms to remain competitive.

In the immediate term, the focus of the Department and its agencies is to promote firm level awareness of, and level of preparedness for, Brexit. Enterprise Ireland's be prepared grant is one of a number of supports provided through the Department's agencies. It was introduced in June 2017, and is a grant support of up to €5,000 for SME clients in preparing a plan to mitigate risks and optimise opportunities arising from Brexit. To date 113 companies have been approved for support under this initiative. However, it is important to highlight that the be prepared grant is one of a suite of initiatives designed to help companies plan for Brexit and complement the range of existing Enterprise Ireland supports to make companies more competitive and resilient in export markets.

So far in 2018, EI has supported 639 Brexit exposed clients. These supports included 50 innovation grants, 108 competitiveness grants and 100 market diversification supports. In addition, 180 Brexit exposed clients have participated on trade missions in the first six months of the year.

In terms of Brexit advisory services, EI's seventh Brexit preparedness clinic, which I attended, took place in the Aviva Stadium on 21 June with more than 110 companies attending, 67 of which were EI clients. Four more clinics are planned over the next six months. To date, 2,328 Brexit scorecards have been completed, 999 by EI clients, 231 by local enterprise office, LEO, clients and 1,098 by non-clients. The number of 'act on' consultancy assignments completed is 41 and a strong pipeline is in place.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

A range of sectoral round table client discussions have been also convened and are planned, including in financial services. The LEOs are also providing a range of supports including, in the year to date, 186 clients have availed of Technical Assistance for Micro-Enterprises TAME programme and 137 have availed of 'lean for micro' Brexit-related supports. Similarly, InterTrade Ireland is also providing a range of supports with, for example, 149 'start to plan' vouchers with a value of up to €2,000 approved to date.In conclusion Deputy, I would emphasis that the be-prepared grant is but one of a number of supports that are helping businesses to plan their Brexit response and I will ensure we step up our work with impacted firms as the potential shape of Brexit becomes clearer in the coming months.

See this speech in context