Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there is a list available of mentors who carry out mentoring for small businesses in the County Galway area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14708/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides funding to a number of Agencies, including the County and City Enterprise Boards and Enterprise Ireland, through whom State assistance is delivered directly to eligible businesses. The County and City Enterprise Boards provide support to small businesses with 10 employees or fewer. Subject to certain eligibility criteria new and developing enterprises may qualify for financial support in the form of various grants. In addition the CEBs deliver a range of non-financial supports to improve the business management capabilities of owner-managers which can assist in the sustainability and growth of their businesses. Enterprise Ireland provides assistance to companies with ten or more employees in the indigenous manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors that wish to expand through increased export activity. Through its network of 34 overseas offices, Enterprise Ireland assists client companies to create and implement successful strategies for market entry, development and growth.

Direct mentoring services are amongst the services provided by the County and City Enterprise Boards and Enterprise Ireland but the precise information requested by the Deputy is a day-to-day operational matter for the relevant State Agencies and I would not have any role in gathering or holding such information. Therefore I would suggest that direct contact should be made, in the first instance, with Galway County and City Enterprise Board to explore the provision of mentoring assistance to businesses in the Galway area. The Board can be contacted at Galway County and City Enterprise Board, Wood Quay court, Wood Quay Galway, tel. 091-565384.