Written answers

Tuesday, 30 June 2020

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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357. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the supports available or being considered for new start-up businesses in a post-Covid-19 economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13477/20]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) will continue to be the ‘first-stop-shop’ for advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports for anyone intending to start or grow a business.  The LEOs provide a ‘signposting’ service in relation to all relevant State supports available through agencies such as Enterprise Ireland, 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.

I would urge anyone considering starting or wishing to grow their own business to first contact their Local Enterprise Office (LEO’s). 

The LEOs will continue to offer direct grant aid to microenterprises (up to 10 employees) in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sector and have developed their processes to deliver these supports while following public health advice. 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)

- Business Development grants for existing businesses that want to expand.

For further information on eligibility criteria see the LEOs Website www.localenterprise.ie.

In addressing the challenges of Covid 19, the LEOs have moved their traditional ‘soft’ supports in the form of training or mentoring onto an online platform and are carried out by phone, email or video call such as:

- The Mentor Programme which is designed to match up the knowledge, skills, insights and entrepreneurial capability of experienced business practitioners with small business owner/ managers who need practical and strategic one to one advice and guidance.

- The LEO Management Development programmes which provide the owner-manager with the management, leadership, business skills and knowledge to achieve sustainability and growth in their business.

- LEAN for Micro which is a targeted programme for Local Enterprise Office clients to help small businesses boost competitiveness, increase performance and profitability as well as building resilience within their companies.

A wide range of free training for business owners, managers and staff are now being delivered in the form of free webinars available through the LEO’s Facebook page and YouTube Channel.  

Examples of the training programmes delivered by webinar include:

- Open your Business Safely Post Lockdow

- Financial Action Planning Post Lockdown

- How to Re-Open Your Business Safely Post COVID 19 Lockdown

- COVID-19 / Selling Through Online Channels

- Business Continuity During & Post COVID19

- COVID19 Return to Work: Key Practical Steps for Business Webinar

- Getting back to Business - Webinar for Retail

- Re-Opening your Hair or Beauty Salon after Covid-19

- Re-Opening your Cafe or Restaurant after Covid-19

- Social Media Tactics During Lockdown

- HR Employment Law - Managing Staff During Covid 19

- Covid-19 Re-Opening & Operating Safely

Currently, any business (Sole Trader, Partnership or Limited Company) with less than 10 full time employees and annual turnover of up to €2m may apply to Microfinance Ireland for funding from €5,000 – €50,000 where the business is not in a position to avail of finance from Banks and other commercial lending providers.The loan incurs 0% interest for the first six months and Zero repayments.Thereafter a reduced interest rate of 4.5% APR applies to loans applied for through the Local Enterprise Office.

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