Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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300. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if grant support is offered to businesses seeking to avail of three-phase power; if investigations have been carried out on establishing such a scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5107/19]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports for starting or growing your own business.

The LEOs offer direct grant aid to microenterprises (10 employees or fewer) in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors which, over time, have the potential to develop into strong export entities. Subject to certain eligibility criteria, the LEOs can provide financial assistance within three main categories: Feasibility Grants (investigating the potential of a business idea); Priming Grants (to part-fund a start-up); and Business Development Grants for existing businesses that want to expand. It should be noted that the LEOs do not provide direct grant-aid to areas such as retail, personal services, local professional services, construction/local building services, as it may give rise to the displacement of existing businesses.

The LEOs through their Priming and Business Expansion grants can support grantee expenditure associated with general overheads such as the installation costs for three-phase power. It should be noted that the aim of these grants is to support the applicant business plan which may include installation costs for three-phase power.

It should be noted that matters relating to energy policy in Ireland are the responsibility for the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment.