Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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358. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he is satisfied that local enterprise offices offer a wide range of services and expertise to persons setting up online businesses; and his views that possible modernisation of the type of advice offered in these Offices is needed, especially in the area of online businesses and start-ups. [28649/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Local Enterprise Offices provide a wide range of services and support to all start-up enterprises including online start-ups. The LEOs are the first-stop-shop and sign-posting service assisting in delivering business growth and jobs for the micro-enterprise and small business sector. The LEOs provide services under four headings:

- Business Information and Advisory Services;

- Enterprise Support Services;

- Entrepreneurship Support Services;

- Local Enterprise Development Services.

Their main activities include;

- Combining direct grants with targeted mentoring and training as well as general business supports and assistance;

- Providing an enhanced guidance service on all other local and national supports such as those available from Revenue, Dept. of Social Protection, Microfinance Ireland, the Credit Review Office, Skillnets, Fáilte Ireland, NSAI, Education and Training Boards etc.;

- Direct referral of clients to Enterprise Ireland;

- Direct advice and guidance on Local Authority rates, procurement and regulations affecting business.

Direct grant aid (subject to eligibility criteria) is available in the form of Priming Grants, Business Expansion Grants and Feasibility Grants and other non-financial supports include Start Your own Business courses, Mentoring Programmes, Procurement and Tendering training, Financial Management training, Workshops on Communications and PR etc.

The LEOs also administer the Trading Online Voucher Scheme (TOVS). The scheme is funded by the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources (DCENR) but rolled-out by the LEOs. This is an incentive scheme designed to encourage more small businesses to trade online. The scheme provides individual qualifying businesses with matched funding of up to €2,500 to be used to build or enhance the online trading component of their website. The scheme aims to encourage the development of online engagement by Irish small businesses through the adoption of digital services or skills and the target is to get 2,000 small businesses trading online by end 2015 thereby reaching new markets, growing their business, employing more people and exporting more. By 1^stJuly 2015 1,000 vouchers had been provided.

The TOVS targets traditional small businesses (with less than 10 employees) that have been trading for at least 12 months and who are not yet trading online or doing so in a very limited way. In addition to awarding vouchers of up to €2,500 each to successful applicant businesses, LEOs provide the key ingredients of training, mentoring and networking support to enable small businesses to move online. An information session, organised by the LEO, forms an important part of the application process for a trading online voucher. It provides support to prospective applicants who have little knowledge of the internet or its potential to help them access new markets and create jobs. It assists business owners and managers in their application by encouraging them to think strategically about enhancing the digital capability of their business.

Anyone who wishes to seek further information or advice specific to their own business should contact their Local Enterprise Office via

In addition anyone can access an online search tool for SME business supports. There are over 80 different Government supports for Irish start-ups and small businesses. The “Supporting SMEs Online Tool” is a cross-governmental initiative to help Irish start-ups and small businesses navigate this range of Government business supports for which they could be eligible. It is available at: .