Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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453. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the benefits a business which is approved for the business continuity voucher receives for €2,500; the costs that the enterprise board incurs in delivery of the €2,500 grant for a business; and the amount mentors are paid per hour. [8840/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Local Enterprise Offices are the ‘First Stop Shop’ for anyone seeking information and support on starting or growing a business in Ireland. Located in the 31 Local Authorities Offices nationwide, the LEOs provide a ‘signposting’ service in relation to all relevant State supports available through agencies such as Revenue, the Department of Social Protection, Education and Training Boards, the Credit Review Office and Microfinance Ireland. The LEOs can also offer advice and guidance in areas such as Local Authority rates, Public Procurement and other regulations affecting business.

The benefit accruing to any business availing of a Business Continuity Voucher is the consultancy support provided towards contingency planning to assist the business to continue trading through the COVID lockdown phase. The primary aim of the scheme was to support companies to make informed decisions regarding the immediate measures needed to continue trading during the COVID lockdown phase while securing the safety of all employees and future business viability through identification of remedial actions.

Examples of what it could be used to support include but are not limited to:

- Develop business continuity plan

- Assess current financial needs in the short term to medium term

- Reduce variable costs, overheads and expenses,

- Review and explore supply chain financing options

- Implement remote working processes or procedures

- Leverage HR expertise

- Leverage ICT expertise

- Prepare a business case for application to emergency financial interventions available through Banks, Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland and Micro Finance Ireland.

The costs that the Local Enterprise Office incurs in delivery of this support are up to €2,500 in consultancy expenditure per voucher.

LEO Mentoring Support is a separate support to the Business Continuity Voucher. The LEO Mentors are paid a maximum pro rata rate of €175 per visit (€58 per hour) lasting up to three hours excluding travel time for each visit related to an assignment.

In addition to the above, the LEOs are offering COVID-19 mentoring appointments, where a client company is matched with an experienced business professional for expert mentoring. This service is now provided at no charge to the client company and appointments are carried out by phone, email or video call.