78 Deputy Joe Behan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports that are available to a company (details supplied) proposing to employ staff from a firm that is closing down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13466/10]

The Department does not provide direct funding to business or start-ups, rather it provides funding to the enterprise agencies. Assistance for small businesses and services in Ireland is delivered by a number of bodies, including the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) and Enterprise Ireland (EI). If the company in question is seeking to expand and requires the assistance of state supports in order to do so it may wish, in the first instance, to approach EI or its local CEB in order to ascertain if its business proposals qualify it for financial assistance.