Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the funding streams that are available to a new business enterprise in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25549/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, 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 (CEBs) and Enterprise Ireland, through whom assistance is delivered directly to businesses.

Subject to certain eligibility criteria new and developing micro-enterprises may qualify for financial support from the CEBs in the form of Priming, Expansion/Development and Feasibility/Innovation Grants. 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 have the capacity to achieve commercial viability and which over time may develop into strong exporting entities. The criteria under which financial assistance is available from the CEBs are based primarily on factors such as the sector of the economy in which an enterprise is operating or intends to operate and the size or proposed size of the enterprise. Support to an enterprise must not give rise to displacement of existing enterprises.

Priority is given to projects in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors. It is considered inappropriate to support other areas such as retail enterprises, personal services (e.g. hairdressers, gardeners, etc), professional services (accountants, solicitors, etc) lacking export potential, and construction, as it is considered that these enterprises generally give rise to unacceptable deadweight (where projects would have proceeded anyway) and/or displacement (where the projects simply displace business from other players in the market) concerns.

I would advise the company to remain in contact with their local CEB in North Cork to explore their options as their business develops as the CEBs also deliver a range of non-financial supports in the form of business advice, training and mentoring designed to improve management capability development within micro-enterprises to help new and existing enterprises to operate effectively and efficiently so as to last and grow, which may be available to the company.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 113: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the sources of funding available to a person who wishes to carry out market research on an idea for a new business. [25588/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department does not provide direct funding or grants to businesses but rather provides funding to a number of State Agencies, including the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) through whom assistance is delivered directly to businesses.

Subject to certain eligibility criteria new and developing micro-enterprises may qualify for financial support from the CEBs in the form of Priming, Expansion/Development Grants and Feasibility/Innovation Grants. 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.

However, in order to more fully explore the range of options that may be available, potential entrepreneurs are advised to contact their local CEB to discuss their business needs with the relevant staff of the Board. Contact details for individual CEBs can be found by accessing the following website: www.enterpriseboards.ie