O’Donnell urges Limerick enterprises to attend tomorrow’s Taking Care of Business event

Fine Gael Limerick TD, Kieran O’Donnell, is encouraging local entrepreneurs and businesspeople to attend the ‘Taking Care of Business’ event which takes place tomorrow (Tuesday) in the Strand Hotel from 8.30am to 2.30pm. A total of 25 Government agencies will be on hand at the event to offer advice on how small businesses can access the supports they need to expand and create jobs.

Deputy O’Donnell added that the event, which has been organised by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, is timely considering the current level of public debate on the challenges facing the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector.

“Tomorrow’s free half day event will bring together 25 Government agencies including Enterprise Ireland, the Revenue Commissioners, Microfinance Ireland and the Office of Government Procurement. They will present information on the supports available to entrepreneurs, and representatives from each of these bodies will also be on hand to answer questions.

“SMEs are driving our economic recovery, and the Government is acutely aware of the hugely important role small businesses play in creating employment in the local community. There is a wide range of supports in place for existing and aspiring entrepreneurs, including a series of schemes to help small businesses and start-ups to gain access to credit. We want to make sure all businesses are fully aware of these supports, and that’s where this ‘Taking Care of Business’ event comes in.

“The Government wants to communicate better with businesses, and make sure that all of the State supports on offer are being fully availed of. Two out of every three new jobs created come from start-up businesses in the first five years of their existence, so it’s really important that we fully support new businesses and help them to get off the ground.

“The Limerick event will be addressed by the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Alan Kelly TD, and Helen O’Donnell, entrepreneur, Chairperson of Limerick Tidy Towns and Limerick Person of the Year 2012, will chair a presentation session.

“The face-to-face advice on offer should be very useful for Limerick entrepreneurs and businesses and I hope as many people as possible involved in local enterprise will come along to the event.”

ENDS