Jobs Minister issues information leaflet on schemes targeted at start-ups

17 Jul 2012

Ireland’s Jobs Minister Richard Bruton, TD, has issued a new information leaflet to give start-ups in particular more details about the 15 Government schemes that are available to businesses to help them either set up operations, expand and create jobs.

Bruton distributed the leaflet for the first time yesterday while he was in Galway to speak at the 9th Action Plan for Jobs 2012 Forum.

He said there is a lack of awareness amongst business of many of the schemes that are available to start and grow your business, and that some of these schemes are “seriously” underused.

For instance, in the case of Revenue Job Assist, the Government said almost 200,000 people are eligible to qualify for this scheme, but in 2010 – the latest year for which figures are available – only 650 people benefited from the scheme.

The leaflet – available online – outlines the financial supports for business, including the Seed Capital Scheme and the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (Self-Employed). The latter scheme is so people can retain their social welfare while starting up.

Other schemes covered in the booklet include the Three-year Corporate Tax Exemption, which offers tax relief for new start-ups, the Employment Investment and Incentive Scheme, and R&D Tax Credit. Innovation Vouchers and the Accelerated Tax Allowance gives tax relief to companies operating in the energy-efficiency space.

“I know from my travels around the country that all levels of Irish business are fighting hard to retain customers, retain staff and to find new markets in an uncertain economic environment. Access to credit, business costs and consumer confidence are constant concerns for the business owners I meet,” said Bruton.

He said it had become apparent, through his meetings with entrepreneurs, that there is a gap in awareness of the actual supports that already exist.

“Governments don’t create jobs, successful businesses do. But Government can help, and this leaflet explains some of the more immediate and direct sources of support which I hope businesses can take advantage of in the coming months and years,” added Bruton.

Business meeting image via Shutterstock

Carmel Doyle was a long-time reporter with Silicon Republic

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