Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

328. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will examine and support the unemployed trades person who decides to set up as a self-employed sole trader with ambitions to grow the business and create jobs for others with more direct support. [1570/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Anyone interested in starting or expanding their own business should in the first instance contact their local County and City Enterprise Board (CEB). The CEBs support the indigenous micro-enterprise sector in the start-up and expansion phases and stimulate enterprise potential at local level. They are the first port of call in terms of advice, direction, training and, in certain circumstances, grant support for anyone who wishes to start or expand a business. Contact details for the CEBs are available on .

Work is well underway to transform the support infrastructure for small and micro businesses, which will see the CEBs as presently constituted dissolved and re-formed as Local Enterprise Offices within Local Authorities working under the direction and guidance of the new Enterprise Ireland Centre of Excellence. This will ensure that Ireland has an enhanced, seamless and benchmarked support and progression pathway for small and micro business.

In addition, Microfinance Ireland is providing support in the form of loans of up to €25,000 available to start-up, newly established or growing microenterprises employing less than 10 people with viable business propositions that do not meet the conventional risk criteria applied by the banks. The Fund has a significant entrepreneurship focus and is open to anyone with a viable business proposal. Applications for the Microfinance Fund should be channelled through the local CEB.

Anyone who is thinking of creating new jobs should contact their Department of Social Protection local office with regard to JobsPlus, the new employer incentive, which encourages and rewards employers who offer employment opportunities to the long term unemployed.