James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps he is taking, to support small rural shops and businesses in counties Longford and Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49019/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Micro-enterprises employing less than 10 persons, in Counties Longford and Westmeath can, as their first port of call, contact their local County Enterprise Board (CEB) to discuss what options may be available to them in relation to their proposed business venture in the start-up and expansion stages. 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. These are designed to help new and existing enterprises to operate effectively and efficiently so as to last and grow, and are available, as appropriate, to the needs of a promoter’s business. Contact details for the CEBs can be found on

On 31 October 2012, my colleague, Mr John Perry TD, Minister for Small Business, launched the new Enterprise Ireland €200,000 Competitive Feasibility Fund aimed at stimulating start-ups and creating jobs and growth in the Midlands Region (Counties Laois, Longford, Westmeath, Laois and Offaly). This Fund, which can provide up to €25,000 per project, is now open for applications from entrepreneurs, and will remain open until Tuesday 20 November 2012.

In 2011, just over 3,700 people were employed on a full-time basis in Enterprise Ireland client companies in Counties Longford and Westmeath and some €4.3m was paid to companies in these counties for job creation/ retention and business development purposes. Contact details for Enterprise Ireland can be found at the Agency’s website

In order to improve access to credit for entrepreneurs and micro-enterprises, and to facilitate the growth and expansion of viable businesses from all industry sectors which have been refused access to credit by banks, the Government on 27 September 2012, established the Microfinance Loan Fund. The Fund has a significant entrepreneurship focus and is open to entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs of all ages, across the country.

Microfinance Ireland, (MFI), the company set up to operate the Fund, is working closely the CEBs and Enterprise Ireland and are very conscious of the particular difficulties entrepreneurs face with regard to credit history, previous business experience etc. and where they can assist entrepreneurs, they will do so. However, the potential viability of the business proposal is the dominant factor in any credit decision made by Microfinance Ireland.

The Action Plan for Jobs 2012 also includes a number of specific measures aimed at supporting employment in the retail sector. These Actions are for delivery across a number of Departments and agencies and include:

-a renewed focus on prompt payments to business,

-an assessment of the potential for future development of the retail sector,

-the introduction of a Statutory Code of Practice for Grocery Goods;

-the enactment of legislation to reform the statutory wage setting mechanisms; and

-the acceleration of the programme of revaluation of commercial premises, which will provide a basis for the adjustment in commercial rates.

Other initiatives which the Government introduced as part of the Jobs Initiative in May 2011 also continue to help support employment in the retail sector. These include the halving of Employer’s PRSI on earnings up to €356 per week and the reduction in the 13.5% VAT rate to 9% on certain goods and services.

My officials and I meet with representatives of the retail sector to hear the challenges they face. These engagements will assist us in implementing the above commitments in the Action Plan for Jobs and in identifying any further actions that can be taken to support the sector.