Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 212: To ask the Minister for Jobs; Enterprise and Innovation if grant aid for equipment is available to a new business start up in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17097/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation 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), 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.

I would advise the promoter to contact their appropriate CEB; Kerry County Enterprise Board in the first instance to discuss what options may be available to them and their proposed business venture. The Board is located at the County Buildings, Rathass, Tralee, Co. Kerry; Phone No: 066 718 3522, Fax No: 066 712 6712: Email: kerryceb@kerrycoco.ie Website: www.kerryenterprise.ie

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.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for Jobs; Enterprise and Innovation if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be permitted to operate at a location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17197/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I assume that the Deputy is referring to licences for selling goods under the Casual Trading Act, 1995.

The selling of goods in public places is governed by the Casual Trading Act, 1995. Under this legislation the regulation of selling goods in public places is devolved to the 88 local authorities entitled to make bye laws under the Act. The bye laws made by local authorities under the Act deal with such matters as the fee to be paid, the location of casual trading areas (or trading pitches), access to trading pitches, the hours within which selling may take place, etc. Any person selling goods in a public place covered by local authority bye laws must be the holder of a casual trading licence issued by the local authority. Thus the question of traders who wish to sell goods in a specific place should be more properly addressed to the local authority in the area in which they wish to trade. I have no direct function in the issuing of these licences.

A local authority may refuse to grant a casual trading licence if (a) the person fails to furnish a completed application form, (b) the person fails to pay the appropriate fee and (c) a trading place is not available. There is also provision for a local authority to refuse the grant of a licence to persons convicted of offences under the Act.