Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
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160. To ask the Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment the start-up funding available for new businesses; the details and descriptions of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36306/20]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The 31 Local Enterprise Offices nationwide are a ‘first-stop-shop’ for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports to those wishing to start or grow their own business and act as a ‘signposting’ service for all government supports available to the SME sector.

The Local Enterprise Offices can offer direct grant aid to microenterprises (up to 10 employees) in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sector which, over time, have the potential to develop into strong export entities. Subject to certain eligibility criteria, the Local Enterprise Offices can provide financial assistance in the following categories:

- Feasibility Grants- to investigating the potential for business idea.

- Priming Grants- to part-fund a start-up.

- Business Development grants– to fund existing businesses that want to expand.

- Technical Assistance for Micro-Exporters- to support clients to explore and develop new export market opportunities.

The Local Enterprise Offices do not provide direct grant-aid to areas such as retail, personal services, local professional services or construction/local building services, as it may give rise to the displacement of existing businesses.

Additionally, the Trading Online Voucher scheme offers skills training, mentoring and financial support of up to €2,500 to help small and micro-businesses to develop their ecommerce capability.

Furthermore, businesses operating in the domestic market (regardless of numbers employed) may avail of the soft supports available from the Local Enterprise Office, such as First Stop Shop, Mentoring and/or Training programmes. Further details and information can be found on the Local Enterprise Office website available at: www.localenterprise.ie

Full details on all business supports are available at: and in particular the mapping of support environment for entrepreneurs which lists both State and non-State supports for entrepreneurs at