James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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265. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of business plans assessed by Enterprise Ireland for County Longford in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33131/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, there are discussions going on all the time between companies and Enterprise Ireland. This activity only crystallizes once an application for support has been tabled. I understand from Enterprise Ireland that the Agency would need to carry out surveys across all of its departments given that such discussions can relate to applications for the various support programmes that Enterprise Ireland provides for entrepreneurs and businesses, such as New Frontiers, Innovation Vouchers, Competitive Start Fund, Competitive Feasibility, R&D and HPSU feasibility study. In this regard, EI client and potential client companies are required to complete a business plan as part of their application for most, but not all, of Enterprise Ireland’s support programmes. In this context, I should point out, however, that such discussions have resulted in Enterprise Ireland making payments totalling €4,298,381, for 2011, 2012 and year to date in 2013, to nineteen of its client companies in County Longford.