Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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495.To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to review a business type (details supplied); and if he will outline any grants which are available to them.[35851/24]

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I encourage anyone who is setting up their own business, to first speak with a business advisor in their Local Enterprise Office (LEO). The LEOs play an extremely important role at local level, as part of a supportive ecosystem, providing their services direct to small businesses and promoting entrepreneurship within towns and communities across the country and are best placed to provide advice on the supports available to small business owners.

LEOs act as a first stop shop for every business and provide a signposting service for all government supports available to the SMEs and can provide information/referrals to other relevant bodies under agreed protocols. The Local Enterprise Office in Co. Cavan is located at Cavan Innovation & Technology Centre, Dublin Road, Cavan, County Cavan, H12 R6D6 and can be contacted by phone (049-4377200) or by email (localenterprise@cavancoco.ie).

LEOs also provide consultancy and grants to small businesses of all sectors, in the areas of Green, Digital and Lean. These grants are focused on providing capital to assist in implementation of recommendations to digitalise or decarbonise a business. These grants also enhance the productivity and improve the competitiveness of small businesses.

There is also a wide range of high-quality business and management development programmes, including mentoring and advice, that are tailored to meet specific business requirements available to business owners through their LEO. Whether it is a new start up or growing an existing business there are programmes that are suitable for anyone exploring self-employment as an option or for those who are currently operating a business and wish to learn more. In the case of the details provided in this instance I would strongly encourage them to enquire about the Start Your Own Business (SYOB) programme.

SYOB guides clients through the various aspects of business and business planning. It is important to plan in advance of setting up a new venture, preparation is the single most important thing you can do to ensure your fledging business gets off the ground and continues flying. The objective of the SYOB is to assist clients in honestly assessing their business idea, its viability and help them decide if they should proceed or take a step back.

LEOs can offer direct grant assistance to small businesses. However, it should be noted that grants that are specifically designed for growth or exporting and are aimed at those in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors.