Written answers

Thursday, 6 October 2022

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Enterprise Support Services

Photo of Claire KerraneClaire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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119. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the grants that are available for a business (details supplied) in tabular form. [49282/22]

Photo of Damien EnglishDamien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The Local Enterprise Offices nationwide act as a ‘First Stop Shop’ for providing information, guidance, training and development and financial assistance to anyone looking to start, grow or pivot their own business. The Local Enterprise Offices act as a ‘signposting’ service for all government supports available to SME’s and can provide information and referrals to other relevant bodies under agreed protocols e.g., Revenue, Micro Finance Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, LEADER, and Enterprise Ireland.

The Local Enterprise Offices offer direct grant aid to businesses operating in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors which, over time, have the potential to develop into strong export entities.

The Local Enterprise Offices can also provide a wide range of high-quality business and management development programmes that are tailored to meet specific business requirements. I would encourage anyone who is running their own business to speak with the experienced business advisors within their Local Enterprise Office regarding the assistance they can offer.

In particular, the Mentor programme, which is designed to match up the knowledge, skills, insights and entrepreneurial capability of experienced business practitioners with small business owner, can provide expert guidance on the best course of action to develop a small business.

Other programmes such as LEAN for Micro and Green for Micro provide business owners with tools and advice on reducing costs and increasing efficiencies within their business. In addition, I would encourage enterprises to enquire about digital supports such as the Digital Start Programme and the Trading Online Voucher scheme which can assist businesses in developing their e-commerce capabilities and includes further training in digital marketing and social media.

The above interventions along with supports available from other Government agencies can be found on the supportingsmes.gov.ie website. This is a cross-governmental guide to help small businesses know which of the over 170 Government supports are relevant to their business.

Photo of Emer HigginsEmer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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120. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details on all the supports available to assist entrepreneurs with disabilities.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49297/22]

Photo of Damien EnglishDamien English (Meath West, 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 anyone, including people with disabilities, intending to start or grow a business. In that regard, the LEOs provide a ‘signposting’ service in relation to all relevant State supports available through agencies such as the Department of Social Protection, Revenue, Education and Training Boards, the Credit Review Office and Microfinance Ireland.

The LEO grant supports are available to all entrepreneurs provided their business meets the general eligibility criteria, such as operating in manufacturing or internationally traded services.

In addition, all entrepreneurs can avail of LEO training, mentoring and management development programmes.

Furthermore, LEOs can provide additional support to entrepreneurs with disabilities such as one to one mentoring or accommodations to assist with the completion of grant application forms or to complete training courses such as Start Your Own Business.

Enterprise Ireland is focused on ensuring that supports for entrepreneurs and enterprise are accessible to all, including people with disabilities. Enterprise Ireland continues to invest in additional content, available on eiLearn () and are working in conjunction with stakeholders in the LEOs and third level colleges to develop new programmes and initiatives.

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