Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

19. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the supports proposed to assist SMEs in County Kildare as a result of budget 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42693/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Brexit is undoubtedly the most significant challenge facing Irish enterprise in over 50 years.

For 2019, I am allocating an extra €8m to the enterprise agencies and regulatory bodies under my Department, who work with firms at the coalface to develop their supports for business, including those based in County Kildare.

I also announced a longer term loan facility of up to €300m to support capital investment by business.

Enterprise Ireland (EI) supports include:

- A new Online customs Training Programme to be launched shortly to demystify customs procedures. This will be available to all exporters and importers.

- Brexit Advisory Clinics: The purpose of these clinics is to encourage companies to examine their potential exposure to Brexit, to complete the Brexit SME Scorecard and use the Be Prepared Grant to plan their strategic response to Brexit.

- Brexit Scorecard: An interactive online platform to self-assess exposure to Brexit under six business pillars.

- Be Prepared Grant: This grant offers SME clients a grant of up to €5,000 to assist them in preparing an action plan for economic shocks such as Brexit.

- The Agile Innovation Fund: giving companies rapid fast-track access to innovation funding, and up to 50% in support for product, process or service development projects with a total cost of up to €300,000.

- Market Discovery Fund - supports Enterprise Ireland clients research new markets for products and services.

- “Prepare to Export Scorecard”: The Scorecard helps Irish companies with global ambition to self-assess how prepared they are to start exporting.

In Budget 2019, I have allocated €1.25m for a Retail Online Scheme which will be launched by Enterprise Ireland shortly. The main objective of the Pilot scheme will be to support SMEs in the retail sector with a pre-existing online presence to develop and implement a more sophisticated and strategic online trading offer with a view to increasing online business and customers both domestically and internationally.

I have also earmarked an additional €1.8m for the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland over the next 3 years.

The 31 Local Enterprise Offices play a pivotal role in supporting micro-enterprises, as they prepare for Brexit. I have allocated an additional €5m to enhance their programme of supports in 2019, up 22% on 2018. This will include the development of a new customs training programme for importers and exporters, with funding for the Local Enterprise Offices to roll-out this training, in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland.

I have also allocated an additional €1m in capital funding to InterTrade Ireland, an increase of 17.5%. This will allow them to step up their support for companies in the border region, North and South, who are particularly exposed to Brexit.

The Government’s commitment to preparing the business community for Brexit can also be seen in the series of four “Getting Ireland Brexit Ready” seminars, which are being held this month around the country.