Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 12: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of new business start-ups that have been achieved in the seven months since he came to office, on a county basis; and his targets for the next 12 months. [28887/11]

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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My Department does not compile specific annual statistics on the number of new business start-ups that have commenced trading in the State nor their geographic location. Such business start-ups would not be required to be advised to my Department or to the agencies reporting to me. Responsibility for statistical information rests with the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The latest CSO Business Demography returns are in respect of 2009 and were published in 2011. Data in respect of subsequent years is not yet available.

Entrepreneurial activity can also be considered in the context of company formations and data from the Company's Registration Office (CRO) indicates that during the 7 month period in question 8656 companies were incorporated. This would appear to indicate an increase on 2010 which saw 14013 companies incorporated in the year as a whole. The establishment of Start Ups and supporting the development of innovation-led high potential start-up companies with a strong export focus is a key priority for Enterprise Ireland. Enterprise Ireland offers equity investment to HPSU clients on a co-funded basis, which typically leverages significant 3rd party investment.

The County and City Enterprise Boards support the micro-enterprise sector 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. Their focus has increasingly been on the development of sustainable growth-orientated local enterprise, which can deliver high quality job creation without displacement or deadweight. Through the provision of both financial and non-financial support the Boards have assisted many micro-enterprises in developing their growth and export potential.

Furthermore, in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, a Microfinance Start-Up Fund to provide loans to small businesses is being developed. My Department is taking the lead on this initiative and has met with relevant stakeholders, including the European Investment Bank, organisations with experience in the area of Microfinance in Ireland as well as with the relevant Government Departments. The Fund, including scheme design and appropriate delivery mechanisms, will be developed with a view to formalising proposals in the context of Budget 2012.

Details of start-ups assisted by Enterprise Ireland and the County and City Enterprise Boards since March 2011 are set out in the tables. It is intended that Enterprise Ireland will assist as many as 95 HPSUs in the course of 2012. Start-ups assisted by the CEBs in 2012 are likely to be of the same order as for 2011 with 700 enterprises likely to be assisted for the full year.

Start-ups assisted by Enterprise Ireland

*Figures not available within deadline.