Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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639. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the amount of moneys Enterprise Ireland has provided by way of either funding, as a contribution to Irish venture capital sector investments, seed and venture capital schemes, private equity funds and development capital fund schemes, or investment, as direct equity investments, early stage direct equity investments and so on, to start-up micro-breweries and-or distillery businesses here for 2015, 2016 and 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1496/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Enterprise Ireland supports companies, including micro-breweries and distilleries, in urban and rural areas to start, innovate and remain competitive in international markets. According to Bord Bia's 2017 Economic Impact Statement on Irish Craft Beer, the Irish craft beer sector is performing well across all fronts, from the number of production facilities to production output, market share and exports. The number of craft breweries in Ireland has grown by more than 500% in the last five years, with seventy two now in operation, up from just fifteen in 2012. Nationally, employment in these facilities exceeded 500 for the first time ever, increasing employment in local and rural communities.

In the period 2015 to 2017, Enterprise Ireland supported 16 micro-breweries and distilleries with the following grant and equity investment:

In addition, the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) approved funding of €2.12m to 93 craft brewery or distillery projects between 2015 and 2017 through their priming, business expansion and feasibility grants, the LEO Innovation Investment Fund and the Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) competition.