Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 214: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to any structural or financial supports available for new companies operating in the transport safety market (details supplied). [37049/11]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 216: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if structural or financial supports are available for new technology companies operating in the automobile safety market. [37048/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 216 together.

My Department provides funding to the enterprise development agencies under its aegis, including Enterprise Ireland and the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs), through whom assistance is delivered directly to businesses.

Enterprise Ireland is always available to support new innovative business propositions that have the potential to generate employment and grow sales on international markets. Enterprise Ireland has a structured series of supports to assist the new entrepreneur to:

- Validate the business proposition. The agency gives advice to promoters to help them to formulate an outline plan for a business that has the potential to develop to a significant scale.

- Get to investment-ready. The agency provides feasibility grants and mentor supports to assist new businesses to get to the initial funding round.

- Raise the initial investment required. The agency makes equity investments into new businesses by co-investing with the promoters and the private sector in the initial funding round.

Full details of the supports available are on the Enterprise Ireland website at: www.enterprise-ireland.com/en

I understand that the project referred to by the Deputy is located in South Cork. In this region the South Cork Enterprise Board is available to provide a source of support for micro-enterprise in the start-up and expansion phases, to promote and develop indigenous micro-enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level. Subject to certain eligibility criteria new and developing micro-enterprises may qualify for financial support from the CEBs in the form of priming, expansion/development and feasibility/innovation grants. Whilst not all businesses will be eligible for financial assistance, the CEBs also deliver non-financial supports such as one-to-one mentoring and a range of business advice and training programmes 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, which may be available as appropriate to the needs of the promoter's business.

Specifically in relation to the project referred to by the Deputy, I am informed that the South Cork Enterprise Board met with the promoter in 2010 to discuss the project invention. The Board did offer mentoring assistance with the view that the promoters might develop the concept into a full application for CEB support. However, this offer was not taken up and the promoters have not been in contact with the Board since. I would therefore suggest that the promoters maintain contact with their local CEB as appropriate to explore the options available to assist their business as it develops. The contact details for the South Cork Enterprise Board which is located at Unit 6a, South Ring Business Park, Kinsale Road, Cork are as follows: Phone No: 021-497 5281; Fax No: 021-497 5287; E-mail: enterprise@sceb.ie; Website: www.sceb.ie.