Written answers

Tuesday, 12 March 2019

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Brexit Supports

Photo of Billy KelleherBilly Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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250. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of applicants and participants in Brexit schemes and supports provided by her Department or agencies under her remit in tabular form; and the amount allocated and expended to each such scheme in each year since being established. [12421/19]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Brexit represents a significant challenge for businesses in Ireland, which cannot be underestimated. That is why my Department started developing supports for businesses from the time when Brexit first became a possibility. Government’s priority is to ensure that businesses around the country can manage risks and avail of any opportunities. This has informed the range of advisory and financial supports that are in place.

My Department’s total exchequer allocation increased by 9.1% year on year, up from €871m to €950.2m. This is made up of a record €620m in capital and €330.2m in current funding, which includes an increase of €65m in capital – up 11.7% on last year’s allocation of €555m; and, an increase of €14.2m in current – almost 4.5% more than our 2018 allocation of €316m.

I allocated an extra €5m to the 31 Local Enterprise Offices [LEOs], up 22% on 2018, which have a presence in every county, to support start-ups and growth and, in particular, to support businesses to prepare for Brexit. The LEOs will work with the broad range of small and micro indigenous enterprises across sectors to ensure that they are informed and have plans in place to manage the new trading relationships on the island and with the UK more generally. This includes a new customs training programme for all businesses, exporters and importers, rolled out in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland.

I was also pleased to announce an additional capital allocation of €2.75m to Enterprise Ireland to start developing regional innovation and technology clusters with Institutes of Technology right across the country, positioning them as drivers of world-class start-ups and growth enterprises and helping businesses adjust to market changes, including Brexit.

Through Enterprise Ireland, I also doubled funding for the Online Retail Pilot Scheme to €1.25m in 2019, which will support SMEs in the retail sector to have a stronger online presence and find new markets. This new Scheme follows through on my commitment to increase the scale and internationalisation of indigenous enterprise; increase productivity in high-employment sectors; and encourage Brexit readiness. I announced the first 11 successful applicants on Friday 1st March last and there will be a further call for proposals this year. In addition, Enterprise Ireland invested €74 million in Brexit impacted businesses in 2018.

Funding to InterTradeIreland has been increased by 18% and they, along with the LEOs, are offering a range of Brexit-focused supports to companies, including those engaged in cross-border trade with Northern Ireland.

The Brexit Loan Scheme, using a combination of Irish Exchequer and EU guarantees, leveraged up to €300 million of lending at a maximum interest rate 4% at a cost to the Exchequer of €23 million - €14 million provided by my Department and €9 million provided by Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

The Future Growth Loan Scheme was announced in Budget 2019. The scheme will be available in early 2019 and it 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. This Scheme is jointly funded by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (€37.2 million) and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (€24.8 million) at a total cost to the Exchequer of €62 million.

The first table sets out the respective exchequer increases in allocations to ITI, EI, IDA and the LEOs between 2018 and 2019 and the cost/expenditure of the supports available. Whilst these increases are not all due to Brexit, they are mainly provided to assist the enterprise agencies in their responses to the challenges posed by Brexit.

The second table sets out the uptake of the different Brexit-related supports available through the Department and its agencies as at 28 February 2019.

IDA total allocation (current and capital) for 2019 increased by €33.7 million when compared with 2018.

Enterprise Ireland total allocation (current and capital) for 2019 increased by €6.8 million when compared with 2018.

LEOs total allocation (current and capital) for 2019 increased by €5 million when compared with 2018.

ITI total allocation (current and capital) for 2019 increased by €1 million when compared with 2018.

Table 1.

SchemeExpenditure/Cost
Brexit Loan SchemeThe scheme will cost the Exchequer €23 million (€14 million provide by Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and €9 million provided by Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine).
Enterprise Ireland Be Prepared Grant€258,024 to beginning of March
Enterprise Ireland Market Discovery Fund - A support to EI clients to research new markets€362,919 to beginning of March
Enterprise Ireland Agile Innovation Fund - Gives rapid fast-track access to innovation funding€569,033 to beginning of March
Enterprise Ireland Brexit Advisory Clinics€237,801 to beginning of March
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€380,000 to end of January
Enterprise Ireland Strategic Consultancy Grant – A grant to assist EI clients to hire a strategic consultant for a set period€1,324,730 to beginning of March
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.2017 Expenditure

€188,829

1 Jan to 30 Sept 2018 Expenditure

€365,744
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 clients2017 Expenditure

€529,922

1 Jan to 30 Sept 2018 Expenditure

€518,411
Local Enterprise Office MentoringThere isn’t a specific budget allocation for LEO Brexit mentoring. It is included in the LEOs overall Measure 2 allocation.
Local Enterprise Office Brexit Seminars/Events 2017 Expenditure

€85,509

1 Jan to 30 Sept 2018 Expenditure

€57,855
InterTradeIreland Brexit Start to Plan VouchersITI offers 100% financial support up to £2000/€2250 (inclusive of VAT) towards professional advice in relation to Brexit matters.
Pilot Online Retail Scheme administered by Enteprise IrelandEleven retailers were awarded funding in March 2019 as part of the new €1.25m fund, with €625,000 available under the first competitive call to support retail businesses to strengthen their online offering.

Table 2: Brexit preparedness supports - uptake of available schemes

SchemeUptake (end Feb)
Brexit Loan Scheme

504 applications received, 450 approved by SBCI, 83 Loans progressed to sanction at bank level to a value of €17.47 million (as of 08 March)
Enterprise Ireland Brexit Scorecard - online platform for Irish companies to self-assess their exposure to Brexit 4,435 Brexit Scorecards have been completed. 722 LEO clients have completed the scorecard.
Enterprise Ireland Be Prepared Grant168 Be Prepared Grants have been approved
Enterprise Ireland Market Discovery Fund - A support to EI clients to research new markets251 projects have been approved under this initiative
Enterprise Ireland Agile Innovation Fund - Gives rapid fast-track access to innovation funding43 Agile Innovation projects have been approved
Enterprise Ireland Brexit Advisory Clinics13 Brexit Advisory Clinics have been run with over 1,000 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 resilience190 “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 period1,057 Strategic Consultancy Grants have been approved
Local Enterprise Office Technical Assistance Grant for Micro Export - an incentive for LEO clients to explore and develop new market opportunities431 clients were approved assistance under the Technical Assistance Grant (end January 2019)
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 clients221 LEO clients have participated in the programme (end January 2019)
Local Enterprise Office Mentoring

471 mentoring participants solely focused on Brexit (end January 2019)
Local Enterprise Office Brexit Seminars/Events

3,996 Participants at the Brexit Information events (end January 2019)
InterTradeIreland Brexit Start to Plan Vouchers

There have been 1,172 applications, with 840 approved and 7 still pending assessment.
Pilot Online Retail Scheme administered by Enterprise IrelandApplications 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.

Photo of Billy KelleherBilly Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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251. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of firms that have applied for working capital under the Brexit SME loan scheme; the number of firms that have been sanctioned financing to date by firm size (details supplied); and the total value of same in tabular form. [12422/19]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Brexit Loan Scheme provides affordable working capital to eligible businesses with up to 499 employees that are or will be Brexit impacted and which meet the scheme criteria. The €23 million exchequer funding announced in the 2018 Budget (€14 million from my Department and €9 million from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine) has been leveraged to provide a fund of up to €300 million over the lifetime of the scheme.

The scheme features a two-stage application process. First, businesses must apply to the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) to confirm their eligibility for the scheme. Businesses can use guidelines provided on the SBCI website to determine if they are eligible, and if so, to complete the eligibility form. As part of the process, businesses must submit a business plan, demonstrating the means by which they intend to innovate, change or adapt to meet their Brexit challenges. The SBCI assesses the applications and successful applicants receive an eligibility reference number.

Successful applicants can then apply for a loan under the scheme with one of the participating finance providers using their eligibility reference number. Participating finance providers are the Bank of Ireland, Ulster Bank and Allied Irish Bank. Approval of loans is subject to the finance providers' own credit policies and procedures.

The number of firms that have applied for working capital under the Brexit Loan Scheme to date by firm size (as at close of business 07/03/19):

Firm sizeNo. of firms
Less than 10240
11 to 49192
50 to 24963
More than 2501
No. of employees not provided2
Grand total498

The number of firms that have been sanctioned financing to date by firm size and the total value of same (as at close of business 07/03/19):

Firm sizeNo. of firmsTotal value
Less than 1044€4,309,000
11 to 4930€8,890,000
50 to 2498€4,155,000
More than 2500€0
Grand total82€17,354,000

Photo of Billy KelleherBilly Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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252. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the latest figures regarding the Brexit SME loan scheme launched in March 2018 for items (details supplied) in tabular form. [12423/19]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Brexit Loan Scheme provides affordable working capital to eligible businesses with up to 499 employees that are or will be Brexit impacted and which meet the scheme criteria. The €23 million exchequer funding announced in the 2018 Budget (€14 million from my Department and €9 million from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine) has been leveraged to provide a fund of up to €300 million over the lifetime of the scheme.

The scheme features a two-stage application process. First, businesses must apply to the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) to confirm their eligibility for the scheme. Businesses can use guidelines provided on the SBCI website to determine if they are eligible, and if so, to complete the eligibility form. As part of the process, businesses must submit a business plan, demonstrating the means by which they intend to innovate, change or adapt to meet their Brexit challenges. The SBCI assesses the applications and successful applicants receive an eligibility reference number.

Successful applicants can then apply for a loan under the scheme with one of the participating finance providers using their eligibility reference number. Participating finance providers are the Bank of Ireland, Ulster Bank and Allied Irish Bank. Approval of loans is subject to the finance providers' own credit policies and procedures.

The figures in the table are those as to 1st March 2019. The Department receives a report each quarter from the SBCI on the uptake of the scheme. A number of requested figures have not been included in this table as they pertain to the relationship between banks and their client SMEs and so are beyond the remit of these reports. Some questions requested the same information and have, therefore, been answered once.

Requested Details (as at 8 March 2019)

Applications etc. Amount
Number of businesses which have applied to the SBCI to confirm eligibility for the scheme504
Number of businesses which have had their applications assessed by SBCI462
Number of businesses which have not had their applications assessed by SBCI42
Number of businesses which have had a successful application and received an eligibility reference number450
Number of businesses which had a successful application and received no eligibility reference numberN/A
The number of businesses who did not have a successful application and received no eligibility reference number12
List of current finance providersBank of Ireland, Ulster Bank and AIB
Number of SMEs which have progressed to sanction at finance provider level83
Total value of loans progressed to sanction at finance provider level€17.47m
Current interest rate for those in receipt of approved loansMaximum interest rate under the scheme is 4%

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