Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 300: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the support available by way of advice or grant aid to a start-up service companies when the owners are former PAYE workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34285/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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. In addition, the CEBs deliver a range of advice services and 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. 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.

However, I would stress that 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, 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.

In order to more fully explore the range of options that may be available to them prospective project promoters 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.