Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding support for a start-up company and internship in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [36775/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The role of my Department is to drive Ireland's competitiveness and productivity by creating the conditions where enterprise, entrepreneurship and innovation can flourish and quality employment opportunities are grown and maintained. Funding is provided to a number of State Agencies under its aegis including the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs), through whom assistance is delivered directly to businesses.

The role of the CEBs is to develop indigenous potential and stimulate economic activity at a local level primarily through the provision of financial and technical support for the development of small and micro-enterprises. The Boards form a nationwide support network for small business and are considered to be a first point of contact for persons wishing to set up in business

While my Department provides funding to the CEBs neither I or my Department officials have any role or function in the day-to-day decision making activities of the Boards. The CEBs are independent companies, limited by guarantee and therefore legal entities in their own right. Decisions on applications for assistance from the CEBs are made independently by the Boards, subject to eligibility criteria, on the advice of their evaluation committees, and any person wishing to consider starting up a business is therefore advised to contact their local CEB in the first instance.

Contact details for each of the CEBs is available on their national website www.enterpriseboards.ie. The Dublin 5 area falls within the catchment area of Dublin City Enterprise Board, 5th Floor, O'Connell Bridge House, D'Olier Street, Dublin 2, phone 01-6351144, email gswift@dceb.ie, website www.dceb.ie. In addition to the supports and services of the state agencies under the aegis of my Department, the promoter may also wish to be made aware that the Department of Social Protection also provides assistance through various Back to Work (Enterprise) Schemes and an Employer (PRSI) Incentive Scheme.

In addition and subject to certain eligibility criteria, persons returning to the workplace (having been unemployed for over a year) may be able to avail of Revenue's Job Assist. In this regard, the promoter may wish to contact the Departments of Social Protection at www.welfare.ie and Revenue at www.revenue.ie for further information.

With regard to internship placements, my Department participates in the "JobBridge National Internship Scheme" that provides work experience placements for interns for a 6 or 9 month period. Currently, my Department has no positions advertised, however positions will be advertised in line with business demands and therefore I would advise that interested persons regularly view the JobBridge website www.jobbridge.ie for details of placements as they arise across a variety of organisations.