Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 424: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the measures available to help struggling small businesses in the strategy, Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35026/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy, a Strategy and Action Plan for Irish Trade, Tourism and Investment to 2015, is an integrated strategy that is global in scope and covers both existing and new high growth potential markets. It has set a number of ambitious targets to be achieved by 2015 i.e. to create 150,000 new jobs (manufacturing, tourism and traded services) with a similar number of indirect jobs; increase the value of exports by indigenous companies by 33%, increase overseas visitors to 8 million and secure an additional 780 inward investment projects through IDA Ireland.

The overall objective of the strategy and action plan is to marshal and coordinate the resources of the State in a way that best supports Irish firms, of all sizes, who are trying to trade and grow their business overseas. Implementation of the strategy and action plan will result in the sustained, concentrated and coordinated efforts of all of the key Government Departments and agencies, including our embassies and consulates abroad, which will in turn increase the effectiveness and efficiency of our support for Irish companies in overseas markets.

The strategy presents an in-depth analysis of our recent performance across the three sectors and a suite of actions for building on existing strengths and driving trade relations in existing as well as new and emerging economies. These actions are aimed at: strengthening Ireland's international image and brand; strengthening in-country presence and support; developing and internationalising our enterprise base; developing Ireland as a hub for global high-technology enterprises and clusters; aligning visa policy with priorities in the strategy; support for SMEs; continuing to develop international trade agreements; joint actions and partnerships with other countries; effective engagement with the business community.

Specific supports for SMEs in the strategy include the development of toolkits for Irish businesses trying to enter new markets. Many small companies that are trying to gain a foothold in new markets quite simply do not have the resources to identify new markets and become established overseas. In addition, there will be an outreach programme to identify and access the many Irish businesses which do not engage directly with any of the State enterprise agencies, and which could benefit from the initiatives and actions set out in the new strategy. Other direct supports for SME's are provided through my Department's Enterprise Development Agencies and in particular through Enterprise Ireland and the County Enterprise Boards.