David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 270: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way in which the Government supports and encourages existing small and medium indigenous Irish businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9340/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Small and medium enterprises are generally recognised as firms which employ between ten and 250 employees. Enterprise Ireland is the national development agency with primary responsibility for assisting the development of indigenous SMEs in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sector. Both Shannon Development and Údarás na Gaeltachta carry out EI's functions in their respective regions.

Enterprise Ireland assists its clients across all business functions through the business development model process. The BDM ensures that support is applied to critical business functions, namely, strategy, finance, research and development, marketing, human resources and production. EI's assistance is delivered by way of both financial and non-financial supports.

Financial supports are designed to encourage development and growth at key stages in a client's development, for example start-up or early stage, expansions etc. Financial support consists of both grants and equity finance.

Non-financial support is a cornerstone of EI's client development focus. EI provides expertise to its clients not only in relation to the business functions listed previously but also with regard to the crucial endeavor of developing exports. EI has a network of over 30 overseas offices positioned to provide clients with market information and assisting client contact with potentialbuyers.

EI also has a role in developing future SMEs through its support of those micro-enterprises, employing less than ten staff, that are regarded as high potential start ups. Furthermore, it has a close working relationship with the city and county enterprise boards thus facilitating transition of those clients of the CEBs who are growing to a scale where they would benefit from becoming EI clients. Finally, Enterprise Ireland is directly involved in supporting certain programmes aimed at building infrastructure for businesses, for example community enterprise centres.

A full outline and more detailed outline of EI's specific supports to clients is available on its website at www.enterprise-ireland.com.