Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the supports available to a person setting up a new business providing a Montessori service in the Cork area; the grants and services that may be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4220/11]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, 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. The CEB's unique role positions them as a first point of contact for persons wishing to set up in business. The County and City of Cork is serviced by four CEBs, contact details for each individual Board can be obtained through the CEBs' national website address at www.enterpriseboards.ie The promoter should in the first instance contact their relevant local CEB to discuss what options may be available to them and their proposed business venture.

To be eligible for CEB grant support an enterprise must be in the commercial sphere, must demonstrate a market for the proposed product/service, must have a capacity for growth and new job creation and must not employ more than 10 people. CEBs can provide both financial and non-financial assistance to a project promoter. The forms of financial assistance, which are available, subject to certain restrictions and conditions, include Priming Grants, Business Expansion/Development Grants, and Feasibility/Innovation Study Grants. The CEBs give priority to enterprises in the manufacturing or internationally traded services sector and must always give consideration to any potential for deadweight and displacement arising from a proposed enterprise. 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.