James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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303. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the support available for proposed health and fitness business (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32048/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Anyone interested in starting their own business should in the first instance contact their Local Enterprise Office (LEO). The LEOs 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 and guidance for anyone who wishes to start or expand a business.

The LEOs are required to give priority to enterprises in the manufacturing or internationally traded services sector, which over time can develop into strong export entities and graduate to the Enterprise Ireland portfolio.

In addition, any start-up can use the LEOs as a gateway to accessing finance from Micro Finance Ireland, which offers support in the form of loans of up to €25,000 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 can be channelled through the local LEO.

Also, locally trading businesses, including start-ups, can avail of non-financial assistance from their LEO in the form of a wide range of business advice and information services, management capability training and development programmes, e-Commerce training initiatives etc. Training courses include such topics as internet marketing, ideas generation and negotiation skills. The LEO service also includes a referral service to the range of supports available from other State organisations, such as Revenue, Department of Social Protection, Skillnets, etc.

The LEOs are also running a new competition to find Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur. The competition has a €2m investment fund and targeted business supports on offer and each Local Enterprise Office has an investment fund of up to €50,000 with an overall national winner’s fund of up to €100,000.

There are three categories to the competition;

- best new idea (not yet established)

- best start-up business (up to 18 months)

- best established business with new add-on (over 18 months)

The competition is open to anybody under 30 with an idea/commercial venture for a start-up or existing business in any sector and the aim of the initiative is to encourage and support a culture of entrepreneurship among young people in Ireland, to promote entrepreneurship as a career choice, and to encourage the establishment and development of new innovative businesses by Ireland’s young entrepreneurs. The closing date for receipt of applications is 31 July 2014. Further details are available on the competition website at .

Accordingly, I would advise the person in question to contact the LEO Westmeath for more detailed information and assistance regarding the supports available. The contact details for LEO Westmeath are: LEO Office, Westmeath County Council, County Buildings, Mount Street, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Phone: 044-933 8945,

email: .