DESPITE the difficult economic conditions, businesses on the northside are taking on the challenges.
In 2011, 384 businesses in Dublin city and Fingal got support with development plan from Enterprise Ireland, and a further 271 companies received start up and mentoring support from the enterprise boards. The challenge is to open up new opportunities.
I have recently provided a base for An Tsli Glas, a cluster for the development of green technology and industry on the Northside. This is a sector with real potential. It will be backed by DCU, the local authorities and State agencies. It will use the vacant Enterprise Ireland buildings in Glasnevin.
In February we launched a new Community Enterprise Centre programme. My Department is funding community enterprise centres through Enterprise Ireland on the northside of Dublin, two of which are based in Coolock and Darndale. We are trying to make it easier to start a business and will soon launch a new Microenterprise scheme of loans to people whom the banks won’t support.
New sources of investment are vital. Some major projects are being lined up for funding through innovative arrangements. They include the new National Children’s Hospital and the development of the old Grangegorman complex into a new centre for the Dublin Institute of Technology to house 20,000 students.
The Action Plan for Jobs 2012 is all about making it easier to succeed in business and to take on unemployed people. There is a lot of help for someone who wants to start a business. There are also generous concessions if a business wants to hire. Visit www.djei.ie for more information
I am currently having a series of meetings with representatives of small business groups in North Dublin, as we begin work on the Action Plan for Jobs 2013. Interested readers can contact me at
Richard.bruton@djei.ie
We have tried to make it easier for business to start up and to take on unemployed people. A number of schemes are available to help start and grow a business, including:
?¢ Seed Capital Scheme: Claim back up to
?¬100,000 in income tax paid and invest into a company subscribed as shares;
?¢ Three-year Corporate Tax Exemption: Offers tax relief for new startups;
?¢ Back To Work Enterprise Allowance (Self- employed): Retain your social welfare while starting up
?¢ R&D Tax Credit: Set 25% tax credit against corporation tax liability,
?¢ Innovation Vouchers: Apply for a
?¬5,000 innovation voucher to help you explore a business opportunity or problem;
?¢ Accelerated Capital Allowance: Gives tax relief for energy efficient companies;
?¢ Revenue Job Assist: Take on someone who has been on the live register for 12 months and claim a double write off of the wages and PRSI for three years
?¢ Employer Job (PRSI) Incentive Scheme: Take on someone who has been unemployed for six months and pay no PRSI for 18 months.
We are commencing work on the action plan for jobs 2013. I would welcome submissions from business groups on the Northside of Dublin.