Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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22. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation under the Action Plan for Jobs, the concrete measures that will be taken to improve the supports for self-employed persons and entrepreneurs following budget 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12092/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government's Action Plan for Jobs, which is co-ordinated and developed by my Department since 2012, has set out a comprehensive set of measures to support entrepreneurship, SMEs and the self-employed. The themes in this year's Action Plan for Jobs build on the reforms of previous years in the areas of competitiveness, innovation and entrepreneurship. The objectives and actions set out in the Plan are designed to achieve specific impacts such as in terms of jobs, exports and startups, market penetration and innovation, efficiency of public interaction with business, finance and access to talent.

Increasing entrepreneurial activity is a Disruptive Reform in the Action Plan for Jobs for 2015. Our key priority is driving implementation of the actions in the National Entrepreneurship Statement, which was published in October last year and to achieve the ambitions targets set out for a 25% increase in the number of start-ups and in the scaling and sustainability of new enterprises. The Action Plan for Jobs sets out a range of actions that will positively impact on entrepreneurship namely. These include measures to promote entrepreneurship in the areas of education and research, business environment and supports, innovation and access to finance, networks and mentoring; and, access to markets. These actions are being delivered by an inter-departmental/agency Group.

Specifically in 2015 the LEOs will have ambitious and robust county strategies and targets for startups, enterprise engagements and supports. We will build on the success of Ireland's Best Young Entrepreneur competition in 2014 with a new 2015 Programme. We will launch an Entrepreneur Partnering Programme. The Startup Gathering 2015 will also be held in October, with events over five days in five cities. We will support 130 new entrepreneurs via the New Frontiers Programme, support 185 Competitive and High Potential Startups.

As reflected in the Action Plan for Jobs, a range of actions are also underway following Budget 2015 to support the self-employed and entrepreneurs. These include supporting SMEs through changes to the Seed Capital and Employment and Investment Incentive (EII) Schemes. The EII is being amended to raise company limits, increase the holding period by 1 year and include medium-sized companies in non-assisted areas and internationally traded financial services. The Seed Capital Scheme is being revised and made easier to access, with eligibility extended to individuals who have been unemployed up to 2 years. The new Scheme will be called “Start Up Refunds for Entrepreneurs” (SURE) and full details will be announced shortly. We have also strengthened measures to encourage exports through improvements to the Foreign Earnings Deduction (FED). The FED is being extended for a further 3 years until the end of 2017 and qualifying countries are being extended to include Chile, Mexico and certain countries in the Middle East and Asia. The number of qualifying days abroad is being reduced from 60 to 40, the minimum stay in a country is reduced to 3 days and travelling time is being included as time spent abroad.

A range of agricultural related measures are being implemented including steps to maximise available agricultural land with measures to encourage long term leasing. We are also continuing to supporting the tourism sector with retention of 9% VAT rate.

More broadly improvements in personal taxation will benefit the self-employed and entrepreneurs and support growth in demand across the economy.