Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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103. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding the level of assistance and opportunities for job creation available to the indigenous sector in each of the past four years to date in 2015; if he continues to be satisfied that adequate opportunities are available to this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18903/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The 2015 Action Plan for Jobs sets out a comprehensive range of measures to support entrepreneurship, SMEs and the self-employed in the areas of education and research, business environment and supports, innovation and access to finance, networks and mentoring; and, access to markets. 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 ambitious targets set out for a 25% increase in the number of start-ups and in the scaling and sustainability of new enterprises.

The launch of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) was a major reform delivered in 2014 and the clients of the LEOs increased employment by 4,012 last year to 31,326 jobs throughout the country. In 2015 the LEOs will have ambitious and robust county strategies and targets for start-ups, enterprise engagements and supports to be effective first-stop-shops for enterprise information and supports and launch an Entrepreneur Partnering Programme. My Department through its agencies will build on the 2014 success of the awards programmes such as Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur with a renewed programme for 2015.

Businesses can also access the online search tool for SME business supports that was launched last year. 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: .

When it comes to promoting prosperity through job creation, the role of new entrepreneurs can hardly be overstated, with two-thirds of new jobs created by firms in their first five years. Enterprise Ireland works to increase the number of companies starting-up, succeeding, expanding, exporting and ultimately creating jobs in Ireland. EI’s support system for young companies includes help with business planning, mentoring and development advice, feasibility funding and finance, often in the form of equity investment, as appropriate to the founder’s ambitions and the company’s potential and stage of growth. The number of full-time and part-time jobs created by EI client companies can be seen in the table below.

Enterprise Ireland has set itself an ambitious target of 550 new and early start-ups supported by 2016. In addition, building on the success achieved to date on the Competitive Feasibility Funds, EI will launch four targeted funds during the year in the West, Midlands, MidEast, and one sectoral fund.

The launch of the simplified Startup Refunds for Entrepreneurs Scheme (SURE) in 2015 will provide additional finance for entrepreneurs. Other schemes like the Micro Finance Fund Ireland and the Credit Loan Guarantee Scheme were also established to make available further supports to a wider cohort of Irish companies.

In addition, 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.

Enterprise Ireland job creation figures including SME jobs: