Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of businesses in County Waterford to have requested assistance from the new Potential Exporters Division in Enterprise Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38003/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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As part of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs 2012, Enterprise Ireland’s new Potential Exporters Division provides a wide range of initiatives focussed on helping companies export more. The ‘Get Export Ready’ programme includes practical measures for early exporters focusing on export readiness, the importance of research, developing a value proposition and the skills of export selling. It supports and helps to prepare companies interested in targeting international markets to confront the challenges that any company faces as it prepares to export. Approximately 80 companies from Co. Waterford have sought assistance from the Potential Exporters Division since the beginning of March 2012, when the Division was established. These include calls to the help desk, attendees at Export Awareness Events and participants at the Exploring Exporting Workshops.

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of businesses in County Waterford who have applied for and who have been awarded a competitive start fund worth €50,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38004/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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A key focus of Enterprise Ireland’s strategy is the commitment to increase the number of new High Potential Start-up companies approved annually from 73 in 2009 to 100 in 2013. To contribute to achieving this objective, Enterprise Ireland launched a new competitive programme called the “Competitive Start Fund” in December 2010. The purpose of the Competitive Start Fund is to accelerate the growth of start-up companies that have the capability to succeed in global markets. The Competitive Start Fund provides support of up to €50,000 in equity matched by €5,000 of promoters equity to companies to test and prove product/market fit at an earlier stage of development.

This fund is open to applications from early stage companies from the following sectors: Internet, Games, Mobile, Apps, SaaS, Cloud Computing, Enterprise Software, Lifesciences, Cleantech and Industrial Products, who meet the relevant eligibility criteria. Since the launch of the Competitive Start Fund in December 2010, Enterprise Ireland has had over 800 applications across 7 calls with 100 companies receiving €50,000 of equity funding. To date, Enterprise Ireland have received applications from 12 businesses in Co Waterford with one company being approved €50,000. The next call for applications will open on September 26th 2012.