Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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276. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the support available to indigenous companies to start up or expand their businesses in County Carlow. [47895/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Local Enterprise Office (LEO) in Carlow is the first-stop-shop front line service assisting in delivering business growth and jobs for the micro-enterprise sector. There are 31 LEOs located around the country and they pull together all the players and stakeholders to support everyone with a good business idea and strengthen the enterprise sector in the local area. The LEOs 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 and advice on Carlow LEO services are available at . LEOs generally only grant assist 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. However, there are other potential supports available and the LEO staff can advise appropriately. Examples of these supports include the Department of Social Protection JobsPlus Scheme, whichis an incentive aimed at encouraging and rewarding employers who offer employment opportunities to the long-term unemployed - grants up to €10,000 are available to qualifying employers. Micro Finance Ireland (MFI) 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.

Businesses can also access the new online search tool for SME business supports that was launched last May. The Supporting SMEs Online Tool is a cross-governmental initiative to help Irish start-ups and small businesses navigate the range of Government business supports for which they could be eligible. The Supporting SMEs Online Tool is available at: .

Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) is an initiative of my Department and a component of the Action Plan for Jobs. The competition was conducted by all 31 LEOs around the country and attracted over 1,100 entries between the ages of 18-30 in 3 different categories – Best New Idea, Best Start-Up and Best Established Business. IBYE has a €2million prize fund - €25,000 investment for 31 county level winners. This was reduced to 24 national level finalists competing for an extra €50,000 investment for 1 national winner who was crowned "Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur" on 7^thDecember 2014. The IBYE competition within Carlow received a healthy 20 entries, which reflects a vibrant entrepreneurial base within the County. Following an initial assessment, most of the applicants were invited to take part in a County Bootcamp, where they received advice and mentoring on all aspects of starting and growing a business, as well as the opportunity to share ideas and experience with their peers.

The winners of the County Carlow Finals were announced on Monday 13th October 2014, where the overall County Carlow Young Entrepreneur 2014 went to an entry in the Best Start Up category, for which they were eligible for an investment in their business of up to €25,000. The three categories winners received further Bootcamp training and guidance as they went forward to compete in the Regional Final of the competition against entrants from Wicklow, Wexford and Kilkenny.

Enterprise Ireland’s mission is to work with entrepreneurs, Irish businesses, and the research and investment communities to develop Ireland’s international trade, innovation, and competitiveness. In relation to Carlow, Enterprise Ireland has since 2011 approved almost €10 million to support in-company development projects undertaken by Carlow based client companies. Such support is provided to manufacturing and internationally traded services companies at all stages of development. The supports are focused on strengthening all aspects of the business including innovation, competitiveness improvement, management development, employment and internationalisation with an objective of driving company expansion. All support provided for EI client companies can be accessed at

EI has a number of different supports specifically for Carlow based start-up companies and entrepreneurs. The New Frontiers Entrepreneur Development Programme is a rapid incubation programme designed to provide hands-on support and management development for entrepreneurs who wish to start their own business. Enterprise Ireland partners closely with Carlow IT which runs the Programme on EI's behalf locally. The 2014 Programme will complete shortly with ten participants each receiving a stipend of €15,000. Recruitment for the 2015 Programme will begin in the first half of 2015.

In addition, Enterprise Ireland is launching a €200,000 South East Competitive Feasibility Fund on December 16^th2014, aimed at finding the next generation of innovation led start-ups. This is exclusively aimed at Start-ups in the South East and focused on Carlow, Wexford, Waterford and Kilkenny. The call will close on January 20^th2015. Companies approved will also be supported by assigned Mentors and a ‘Raising Investment Capital’ seminar.Entrepreneurs not supported under the call will be referred to the most relevant local support available whether LEO, SEBIC (South East Business & Innovation Centre) or Waterford IT, once the financial and capability supports required to progress the project are assessed.