John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 310: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the micro-enterprise supports currently available in Dublin North West; of these, the companies currently utilising them in the constituency; the amount being spent on them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27288/11]

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The role of the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) is to support the micro-enterprise sector (i.e. businesses with 10 employees or less) in the start-up and expansion phases, to promote entrepreneurship at local level and to assist the development of sustainable growth-orientated micro-enterprises which can generate job creation at a local level and which, over time, can develop into strong export entities and transfer to the Enterprise Ireland portfolio. There are four Boards located across the Dublin Region servicing the needs of the micro-enterprise sector i.e. Dublin City Enterprise Board, Dublin South CEB, Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown CEB and Fingal CEB.

Dublin North West is served by the Dublin City Enterprise Board. Dublin North and North West represents about one third of the region covered by Dublin City Enterprise Board. Subject to eligibility criteria Dublin City Enterprise Board can provide both financial and non-financial support to a micro-enterprise. The forms of financial assistance, which are available, include Priming Grants, Expansion/ Development Grants and Feasibility/ Innovation Study Grants. The provision of non-financial assistance includes a wide range of Programmes such as Start Your Own Business, Mentoring, E-commerce, Enterprise Education and Women in Business networks as well as the delivery of management and capability development programmes that are aimed at improving the skills of owner managers so as to assist the survival rate amongst micro businesses and to facilitate their future growth.

An Exchequer allocation of over €800,000 has been made available to Dublin City Enterprise for expenditure in 2011 on supports to the micro-enterprise sector and an additional allocation of €250,000 will be available to the Board for further expenditure before year-end. The details of clients utilising the available supports from Dublin City Enterprise Board is primarily a matter for that Board. At the end of this year the Board will compile data on grant aid approved and disbursed in 2011 and also on the levels, and types, of training supports availed of by clients throughout the year.