Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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34. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to protect small and medium enterprises along the Border region which are most exposed to the impacts of Brexit. [30214/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Given the extent of North-South trade, I am very conscious of the challenges faced by companies operating in close proximity to the border, many of which trade freely on both sides of the border. 

Since the UK referendum, the State agencies under my remit - Enterprise Ireland (EI), the Local Enterprise Offices and Inter Trade Ireland - have been active in supporting companies in assessing and addressing their exposure to Brexit.

EI’s current “#Prepare for Brexit” campaign includes a Brexit Scorecard available to all companies to self-assess their preparedness for Brexit and generates a report suggesting appropriate responses.

For exporting companies I secured new resources, including extra staffing, for EI and the LEOs in Budget 2017 to assist businesses to maintain and grow export markets.

Based on significant analysis and stakeholder consultation, my Department is currently working on further measures targeted at the needs of companies in the wider economy around working capital and business development.

The Regional Action Plan for Jobs for the Border region contains a large number of actions aimed at strengthening the enterprise sector in the region.

In particular, the new Regional Enterprise Development Fund of up to €60m was launched on 29th May. This Fund is aimed at supporting collaborative approaches to grow and sustain indigenous enterprise and jobs across the regions of Ireland.