Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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146. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of times he has met an organisation (details supplied) on Brexit-related matters in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25411/17]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Irish SMEs will require support to diversify and restructure their businesses in light of Brexit. It is a key Government strategy to support the growth of and investment in this important sector of the economy. As the Deputy will be aware, there are already significant Government measures to support the financing needs of SMEs and these will be available to assist SMEs deal with the effects of Brexit. These include the SBCI, the Supporting SMEs Online Tool, the Credit Guarantee Scheme, the Microenterprise Loan Fund, Local Enterprise Offices and the Credit Review Office. 

Advisory supports in relation to business planning, such as those provided by the Local Enterprise Offices and Enterprise Ireland, will be particularly important in assisting SMEs that may be adversely affected due to Brexit and will help raise awareness of both private market and State  supports in this regard.

Viable Irish SMEs can access sustainable, flexible and appropriately priced finance through the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI). The SBCI uses an on-lending model; this means it does not lend directly to SMEs, rather it rather it channels its funds though partner financial institutions, known as on-lenders. The SBCI currently has eight on-lending partners, three bank and five non-bank. To the end of December 2016, the SBCI has lent €544 million to 12,593 SMEs supporting 67,150 jobs with 84% of loans being used for investment purposes. The SMEs who received SBCI finance are from a variety of business and economic sectors and are spread across every region of the country. The SBCI is currently seeking to broaden its distribution capability and market coverage by adding new on-lenders and is working to develop innovative products, thereby serving to meet the needs of Irish SMEs and drive competition in the SME finance market.

I have met with the Chief Executive of the SBCI in the context of a Cabinet Committee meeting concerning Brexit related issues.  Additionally, officials from my Department are working closely with the SBCI, Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Enterprise Ireland to examine Brexit mitigation policy measures to assist SMEs to deal with the effects of Brexit. Given the uncertainty concerning the post-Brexit relationship between the UK and the EU, the Deputy can rest assured that my Department will continue to monitor and address Brexit related issues facing Irish SMEs on an ongoing basis.