Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 84: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the grants that a person (details supplied) in County Kildare can apply for through her Department or the State agencies under her remit ; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40494/08]

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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My Department does not provide direct funding or grants to businesses but provides funding to a number of State Agencies, including the County and City Enterprise Boards, Enterprise Ireland and FÁS, through whom assistance is delivered directly to businesses.

The 35 County and City Enterprise Boards provide a source of support to small and start-up businesses with 10 employees or fewer. Subject to certain eligibility criteria new and developing enterprises may qualify for financial support from the CEBs in the form of feasibility, employment and capital grants. The following specific forms of finance are currently from the CEBs to micro-enterprises;

Capital Grants up to a maximum of 50% of the cost of capital and other investment or €75,000, whichever is the lesser;

Employment Grants a grant of up to €7,500 per new job, to a maximum of 10 new jobs.

Feasibility Study Grants up to a maximum of 60% (in the BMW Region) or 50% (in the S&E Region), of the cost of a feasibility study and business plan, subject to an overall limit of €6,350 (in the BMW Region) or €5,100 (in the S&E Region).

All of the CEBs operate to the same criteria in relation to the assistance which they can offer i.e. they can support the establishment and/or the development of enterprises provided that the projects, which should generally be in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sector, have the capacity to achieve commercial viability and which over time may develop into strong exporting entities. In addition, the CEBs deliver a range of non-financial supports to improve management capability development within micro-enterprises designed to help new and existing enterprises to operate effectively and efficiently so as to last and grow.

I would suggest that the person concerned should, in the first instance, make direct contact with The Kildare County Enterprise Board and explore what level of assistance, if any, may be available to them. The Board can be contacted at The Woods, Clane, Co. Kildare, Tel No. 045 861 707 or by email to info@kildareceb.ie (website www.kildareceb.ie).