Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if any funding is available to a person (details supplied) who has set up a company to promote heritage sites, national monuments and architectural wonders here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38449/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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State assistance for microenterprises in Ireland is currently delivered by the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) network.

The County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) provide a range of grants to eligible micro-enterprises, which can cover all business costs directly attributable to growing and developing a business, as well as training and one-to-one mentoring initiatives to assist individual businesses develop.

I understand that the promoter of the project in question has had initial discussions with his local CEB and their services remain available to him as appropriate to his business proposal. I would encourage the promoter to maintain this contact with a view to developing the project.

As part of the delivery of a major commitment in both the Programme for Government and the Action Plan for Jobs 2012, the Government is in the process of introducing the Micro Finance Loan Fund which will provide loans of up to €25,000 for Start-ups, sole traders and existing micro-enterprises.

The Micro Finance Loan Fund will initially facilitate €40m in additional lending to businesses employing not more than 10 people over the next five years, with provision for the scheme to be extended to provide an additional €50m of lending over a further five years at that point.