Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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312. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will examine an entrepreneur local scheme to assist the setting up of small business. [50449/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The County and City Enterprise boards provide support for micro-enterprise in the start-up and expansion phases, promote and develop indigenous micro-enterprise potential and stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level. Their primary role is to support individuals and firms in achieving commercial viability, with priority given to those engaged in manufacturing and internationally traded services. CEBs can provide both financial and non-financial assistance to entrepreneurs. The forms of financial assistance available cover a range of business costs, subject to certain restrictions and conditions, and comprise of priming grants, business expansion or development grants, and feasibility or innovation grants.

The provision of non-financial assistance can take the form of a wide range of business advice and information services, management capability training and development programmes, e-Commerce training initiatives, etc. Anyone interested in starting or expanding their own business should in the first instance contact their local County and City Enterprise Board (CEB). Contact details for the CEBs are available on . In Budget 2014, the Government has provided a total of €18.5 million for CEBs to support enterprise development, an increase of €3.5 million on the Budget 2013 Estimate.

I should also point out that the Government established Micro Finance Ireland in 2012 with a view to improving access by small business to loan finance. MFI provides support in the form of loans for up to €25,000, available to start-up, newly established, or growing microenterprises employing fewer than ten people, with viable business propositions, that do not meet the conventional risk criteria applied by banks.