Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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139. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of businesses that have availed of the Be Prepared grant to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25985/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department, through its agency Enterprise Ireland, supports companies in urban and rural areas to start, innovate and remain competitive in international markets, now and into the future. On an annual basis Enterprise Ireland works with approximately 5,000 companies through a network of market and sector advisers based across 10 national offices and 33 international offices. These manufacturing and internationally traded services companies are a critical source of existing employment and job creation in every county in Ireland.

To date 110 companies have availed of the Brexit Be Prepared Grant. Enterprise Ireland’s Be Prepared Grant offers SMEs a grant of up to €5,000 to assist them in preparing an action plan for economic shocks, such as Brexit. The grant can be used to help cover consultancy, travel and travel expenses associated with researching the direction of their action plan. Enterprise Ireland is committed to processing all applications for the grant within eighteen days.

For example, this might involve investigating the feasibility of diversifying into new markets and market segments; investment in innovation; improvement in operational competitiveness; and/or enhancement of strategic financial capability.

Enterprise Ireland will continue to promote the Be Prepared Grantto all counties and regions to ensure that the maximum number of clients are engaged in preparing for the impact of Brexit.

Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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140. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of businesses that have availed of the market discovery fund to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25986/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Enterprise Ireland believes that the best way for Irish companies to withstand current global economic challenges is by diversifying their export footprint. Enterprise Ireland launched the Market Discovery Fund in January 2018 with the aim of encouraging companies to expand into new markets by helping with the costs of researching viable and sustainable market entry strategies.

The Fund provides support towards both internal and external costs incurred by companies when researching new markets for products and services. Eligible companies can receive support when they are looking at a new geographic market for an existing product/service, or when looking at exporting a new product/service to a market that they already do business in.

The Market Discovery Fund is available across three levels:

- Level 1: Grant up to €35K

- Level 2: Grant greater than €35K but less than €75K

- Level 3: Grant greater than €75K but less than €150K

The maximum funding is 50% of eligible expenditure up to a maximum grant of €150,000. Eligible expenditure includes, but is not limited to, salary support, consultancy costs, trade fair costs and foreign travel.

The Market Discovery Fund has now been open for applications for a number of months and to date, thirty-three Market Discovery Grants have been approved.