Written answers

Thursday, 12 November 2009

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Employment Support Services

5:00 pm

Photo of Lucinda CreightonLucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 12: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action she is taking to facilitate the recently unemployed to start their own businesses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41081/09]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Enterprise Ireland is the lead government agency responsible for the development of Irish enterprise. Its mission is to accelerate the development of world-class Irish companies to achieve strong positions in world markets resulting in increased national and regional prosperity. While Enterprise Ireland does not have a specific mandate in relation to addressing unemployment, the agency is focused on the creation of new jobs through supporting entrepreneurs setting up new High Potential Start-Up Companies, the retention and creation of new jobs in existing companies and in enhancing the innovation capability of Ireland at a national and regional level through support of research in companies and third level institutions.

Promoting entrepreneurship and facilitating the key infrastructural needs of Irish enterprise is vital to ensuring a vigorous pipeline of new business leaders, new business ideas and stability in employment numbers in Irish industry. To support the development of high potential start up companies, Enterprise Ireland offers the Innovative High Potential Start-up Offer where a financial contribution towards the company's business plan is provided to develop products, services or processes which are technologically new or substantially improved. In this way the overall development of the company is likely to lead to increases in sales, exports and employment.

In addition to the Innovative HPSU offer, Enterprise Ireland has other supports aimed at supporting entrepreneurs who wish to set up their own business, these include: Entrepreneurship programmes; Regional Fora; Going for Growth; Community Enterprise Centres; Seed and Venture Capital Funding; Investment in Research and Development; Innovation Vouchers; Industry Led networks and Investment in third level institutions.

Enterprise Ireland also works closely with the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) to support entrepreneurs. The role of the CEBs is to provide support for small businesses with 10 employees or fewer in the start-up and expansion phases, to promote and develop indigenous micro-enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level, with priority being given to manufacturing and internationally traded services. CEBs recognise that business growth and job creation are inherent considerations in their activities. CEBs can support individuals, firms and community groups provided that they have the capacity to achieve commercial viability which is vital to job creation.

The CEBs deliver a series of Programmes to underpin this role and they can provide assistance through both financial and non-financial means, in the form of grants and/or a wide range of business advice such as Programmes covering Business Management, Mentoring, E-commerce, Enterprise Education and Women in Business networks to a project promoter.

The CEBs will continue to support enterprise development in their local areas throughout the country through the provision of both direct and indirect assistance and will ensure that available funds are targeted to maximise entrepreneurial development at county level. I would therefore encourage any persons who are contemplating the idea of setting up in business to contact their local Enterprise Board to discuss what options may be available to them.

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