Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Enterprise Ireland is the state agency with responsibility for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets. Enterprise Ireland works in partnership with Irish enterprises to help them start, innovate, scale and win export sales in global markets. In this way, Enterprise Ireland supports sustainable economic growth, regional development and secure employment.

A key focus of Enterprise Ireland’s activity is supporting start-ups and the start-up ecosystem, as illustrated by the following EI programmes and service level agreements:

- National Entrepreneurial Development Programme

- Competitive Start Fund

- High Potential Start Ups equity support

- Regional Accelerator Scheme 2015 -2017

- Campus Incubator Scheme

- Seed and Venture Capital Scheme 2013-2018

- Service Level Agreement in place with the BICs (Business Incubation Centres)

- Service Level Agreement in place with Local Enterprise Offices to support micro-enterprise.

Enterprise Ireland provides financial and non-financial support for start-up businesses, with the potential to develop an innovative product or service for sale in international markets and the potential to create 10 jobs and €1m in sales within 3 to 4 years of starting up. This cohort of companies is referred to as High Potential Start-Ups. In 2016 Enterprise Ireland supported 101 new High Potential Start-Ups, of this:

- 48% were formed outside Dublin

- 19 HPSUs were led by female entrepreneurs; and

- 16 HPSUs were led by overseas entrepreneurs.

The High Potential Start-Ups Class of 2016 has supported approximately 180 jobs to date. The High Potential Start-Ups Class of 2015 and 2016 collectively employ approximately 700 people.

In addition, there are 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) located throughout the country that provide a range of supports for the micro and small business sector. As the “first-stop-shop” for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports to those wishing to start or grow their own business, the LEOs:

- provide a sign-posting service to all relevant State supports.

- offer direct grant aid to micro-enterprises (10 employees or fewer) in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sector which, over time, have the potential to develop into strong export entities.

- offer “soft” supports in the form of training and mentoring; and

- assist with loan applications to Micro Finance Ireland.

A capital allocation of €15 million was made available to the LEOs in 2016 to fund investment in their clients by way of grants and a range of “soft” supports, such as training and mentoring.

In 2016, the LEOs provided priming grant assistance to 357 clients towards the cost of setting up new businesses. It is estimated that these projects have the potential to result in the creation of circa 1,150 jobs over the coming years.