Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 274: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the incentive schemes available to a person setting up a new accountancy business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9605/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department through the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) provide support to micro-enterprises in the start-up and expansion phases by both financial and non-financial assistance. There are four County and City Enterprise Boards located across the county of Cork. The remit of these Boards as part of a nationwide Network is to promote and develop indigenous micro-enterprise potential and stimulate entrepreneurship at local level across the country.

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 wide range of non-financial supports such as Business Management, Mentoring, E-commerce, Enterprise Education, and Women in Business Networks. These supports are designed to improve management capability development within micro-enterprises and to assist new and existing enterprises to operate effectively and efficiently so as to last and grow. Due to the Boards' unique relationship with their clients and the local business community they can specifically tailor their programmes to meet the evolving needs and requirements of these small enterprises going forward.

Due to their unique role within the community, CEBs are considered to be a first point of contact for persons wishing to set up in business and in that regard, I would advise the promoter to approach their relevant local CEB in the first instance to discuss what options may be available to them and their proposed business venture. Details of the four Cork Boards are as follows:

Cork City Enterprise Board, located at 1/2 Bruach na Laoi, Union Quay, Cork; Phone No: 021 4961828; Fax No: 021 4961869; e-mail: info@corkceb.ie; Website: www.corkceb.ie

North Cork County Enterprise Board, located at Blackwater House, Mallow Business Park, Gouldshill, Mallow, Co. Cork; Phone No: 022 43235; e-mail: michael@nceb.ie; Website: www.nceb.ie

South Cork County Enterprise Board, located at Unit 6a, South Ring Business Park, Kinsale Road, Cork; Phone No: 021 4975281; Fax No: 021 4975287; e-mail: enterprise@sceb.ie; Website: www.sceb.ie

West Cork County Enterprise Board, located at 8 Kent Street, Clonakilty, Co. Cork; Phone No: 023 8834700; Fax No: 023 8834702; e-mail@ enterprise@wceb.ie; Website: www.wceb.ie.