Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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218. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the grants available for companies that are trying to increase their exports for fitting out new premises, buying new equipment and hiring new employees; if there is a single contact in Enterprise Ireland a company could approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44302/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Enterprise Ireland (EI) offers a range of financial and non-financial supports to assist clients through all stages of the business development cycle. These include supports for job creation and where appropriate, capital investment.

The main EI Grant offers available to client companies that are seeking to expand include the following:

- Going Global Grant - A grant for market research costs to assist companies that have successfully established businesses in Ireland who wish to explore opportunities to internationalise as a route to growth.

- Internationalisation Grant - A grant to support the costs of researching and exploring new international business opportunities. Eligible projects include: 1) researching a new market for a new or existing product or 2) researching an existing market for a new product. Eligible costs may include; Salaries & Overheads (for clients with less than 50 employees), Consultancy Fees, Foreign Travel & Subsistence, EI approved Business Accelerator Fees and Trade Fair costs.

- Job Expansion Fund - Funding towards the recruitment of new employees.

- Tailored Company Expansion Packages - Support for companies who are planning to undertake an ambitious expansion that will create employment and grow sales in international markets. The nature of the package will be determined through discussions with Enterprise Ireland.

The specific nature and level of support offered to Enterprise Ireland client companies will depend on the individual company's development needs and is assessed in consultation with their Enterprise Ireland Development Adviser. Development Advisers work with companies to:

- discuss business development needs;

- provide impartial confidential advice on business plans;

- provide information on the wide range of financial and business development supports available from Enterprise Ireland;

- guide client companies through the application process for relevant supports;

- make companies aware of sectoral events and networks of relevance to their business;

Funding decisions are broadly determined by the following criteria:

- Need for financial support for the project;

- Potential employment and sales growth;

- Previous funding provided to the company;

- Regional location of the company.

Companies who are not currently Enterprise Ireland clients but who wish to contact the Agency can do so via the “Get Export Ready” Helpdesk at: 01 7272829 or visit the website at: .