Written answers
Thursday, 17 January 2019
Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
Brexit Supports
Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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118. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the take-up of all Brexit supports in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2248/19]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department and its agencies are working to provide extensive supports, schemes and advice to ensure that businesses are prepared for Brexit. These measures aim to assist businesses in identifying key risk areas and the practical preparatory actions to be taken over the coming weeks.
In addition to the direct supports outlined in the following table, my Department and I have been very active in the 'Getting Ireland Brexit Ready' public information campaign. This campaign includes workshop events throughout the country aimed primarily at business and people most impacted by Brexit. Officials from my Department and agencies also participated in the Getting Ireland Brexit Ready events, which included Enterprise Ireland, IDA, the LEOs, NSAI and the HSA.
Further to the below, increased funding has been allocated to Brexit-related support from my Department and its agencies as part of Budget 2019. An additional €5 million capital funding has been allocated to the Local Enterprise Offices, an increase of 22%, and a further €1 million allocated to InterTrade Ireland to help SMEs prepare for the particular North-South challenges associated with Brexit. Additional resources have also been distributed across Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland and the Health and Safety Authority.
Work continues on the development of the Future Growth Loan Scheme, which will provide a longer-term facility, 8 to 10 years, of up to €300m to support strategic capital investment for a post-Brexit environment by business at competitive rates.
While many businesses have taken preparedness actions, a number have yet to do so. It is vital that businesses prepare themselves for Brexit impacts and take actions to mitigate. Firms that do business with the UK, whether buying goods or exporting products, should examine their supply chains to determine their vulnerabilities and take appropriate action.
| Scheme | Uptake as at 7 January |
|---|---|
| Brexit Loan Scheme | 369 applications received, 325 approved by SBCI, 63 Loans progressed to sanction at bank level to a value of €14.83 million (this figure as at 11 January) |
| Enterprise Ireland Brexit Scorecard - online platform for Irish companies to self-assess their exposure to Brexit | 3,712 Brexit Scorecards have been completed. 651 LEO clients have completed the scorecard. |
| Enterprise Ireland Be Prepared Grant | 151 Be Prepared Grants have been approved |
| Enterprise Ireland Market Discovery Fund - A support to EI clients to research new markets | 208 projects have been approved under this initiative |
| Enterprise Ireland Agile Innovation Fund - Gives rapid fast-track access to innovation funding | 39 Agile Innovation projects have been approved |
| Enterprise Ireland Brexit Advisory Clinics | 11 Brexit Advisory Clinics have been run with approx. 915 in attendance |
| Enterprise Ireland Brexit “Act On Programme” – A support funding the engagement of a consultant to devise report with recommendations to help clients address weaknesses and improve resilience | 165 “Act on” Plans have been completed |
| Enterprise Ireland Strategic Consultancy Grant – A grant to assist EI clients to hire a strategic consultant for a set period | 1,049 Strategic Consultancy Grants have been approved |
| Enterprise Ireland Brexit-exposed companies that have completed sustainable growth plans | 706 |
| Local Enterprise Office Technical Assistance Grant for Micro Export - an incentive for LEO clients to explore and develop new market opportunities | 391 clients were approved assistance under the Technical Assistance Grant |
| Local Enterprise Office LEAN for Micro - The LEO Lean4Micro offer was developed in collaboration between the EI Lean department and the LEOs to tailor the EI Lean offer for LEO micro enterprise clients | 221 LEO clients have participated in the programme |
| Local Enterprise Office Mentoring | 402 mentoring participants solely focused on Brexit |
| Local Enterprise Office Brexit Seminars/Events | 3,996 Participants at the Brexit Information events |
| InterTradeIreland Brexit Advisory Service | 4,175 SMEs have directly engaged with the Brexit Advisory Service in 2018 [this figure as at early December 2018, pending annual report] |
| InterTradeIreland Brexit Start to Plan Vouchers | There have been 811 applications, with 657 approved and 25 still pending assessment [this figure as at early December 2018, pending annual report] |
| Pilot Online Retail Scheme administered by Enterprise Ireland | Total fund of €1.25m. The first call opened on 24 October and closed on the 5 December. Applications are currently being assessed by Enterprise Ireland and the successful applicants will be announced in Q1 2019. There will also be a second call in 2019 |
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