1197. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the grants that are available to an individual looking to start their first business in purchasing and renovating a food truck; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27240/26]

The Government is committed to enabling and supporting entrepreneurs to start up and grow new businesses across the country and provides a wide range of supports through our agencies and bodies.

Locally trading enterprises are recognised in the government’s White Paper on Enterprise 2022-2030, particularly in the context of contributing to Ireland’s ambitions in achieving decarbonisation and digitalisation, and grants in these areas are available to all businesses with up to 50 employees, through the Local Enterprise Offices (LEO).

I would encourage anyone who is considering starting their own business to contact their nearest LEO, which in addition to green and digital grants, provide a range of business mentoring and training courses aimed at providing business owners and new entrepreneurs with advice and skills to start up and grow their own businesses. The Start Your Own Business programme, in particular, aims to assist those with a new business idea or those who have recently started their own business to assess their new business idea, its viability and to decide if they should proceed.

The LEOs also offer direct financial grant assistance (Measure 1 funding) to small businesses. However, it should be noted that these grants are specifically designed for encouraging growth and exporting and are aimed at those in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors.

Locally trading businesses such as the one proposed, may not be eligible for these supports due to a risk of displacement of other similar businesses in the locality and deadweight, where the economic activity would take place in the absence of government intervention.

LEO Business advisors can also assist business owners in preparing and submitting applications to Micro-Finance Ireland, who offer small business loans at a reduced rate, that can assist with start-up costs, applications received through the LEOs are offered at a 1% lower rate.

Finally, I would encourage any entrepreneur to visit the National Enterprise Hub (NEH). The NEH is an all-of-Government service for businesses that brings together multiple agencies and Government departments under one roof (www.neh.gov.ie). The purpose of the NEH is to simplify access to grants and support services for businesses. It is staffed with trained expert advisors within Enterprise Ireland who can guide small business owners to find the support they need.