Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The range of assistance is significant and some of it takes the form of loans. Loans are not always what are needed so in this year's budget the Department has a €13 million loan fund for small and medium-sized enterprises to assist with innovating new products. It will also assist companies with a product that was specifically targeted to the UK market to diversify and tweak the product for a different market. There is capital grant assistance and assistance for product innovation through further investment in the food innovation hub in Moorepark and the prepared consumer food facility at Ashtown. There is a range of incentives. The €300 million loan scheme is for working capital for a sector that has proved it is Brexit exposed. The consultation also identified a need for access to loans at competitive rates for capital investment. We will bring to market a further €300 million loan fund specifically geared for longer-term low-interest finance for capital investment in plant or facilities that will assist companies to navigate the Brexit challenge.

See this speech in context