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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Start with Ireland’s free National Enterprise Hub (NEH) to find relevant supports, then contact your Local Enterprise Office (LEO) for local advice, mentoring, training and guidance on grants. Neither a directory listing nor a headline funding amount means your business qualifies: the agency administering each scheme decides applications, so confirm its current rules and availability before committing costs.
Where should an Irish small business start?
- Search the National Enterprise Hub. The NEH is a free, all-of-government support-discovery and advice service operated by Enterprise Ireland on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. Its catalogue and trained advisers by phone and live chat can help identify relevant agencies and supports; the NEH does not award grants or decide applications. Its FAQ describes more than 287 supports across 30-plus departments and agencies, while a separate government summary says over 250. Treat the catalogue as large and changing, not as a fixed count.
- Contact your Local Enterprise Office. Your LEO can discuss local startup advice, grant guidance, mentoring and training, and help you understand which schemes may fit your business.
- Confirm the rules with the administrator. Apply through the body responsible for the programme, and check its current terms, application window and eligible costs before spending money.
What grants and other Irish business support might be available?
LEOs and other Irish agencies offer a mix of advice, training, grants, loans and specialist supports. Eligibility depends on the specific scheme; sector, business stage, activity, legal form and costs can all matter.
LEO grants
The LEO FAQ describes three grant categories: Priming Grants for qualifying micro-enterprises in their first 18 months; Business Expansion Grants for eligible businesses after that stage; and Feasibility/Innovation Grants for research, innovation and technical development. The LEO grant page gives a typical Priming Grant ceiling of €80,000 and funding of up to 50%, with higher awards considered in exceptional cases. These are scheme limits, not a standard entitlement: the LEO assesses the business, application and costs, and some sectors or activities are excluded. Ask your local office which current rules apply.
Support for energy efficiency
The NEH FAQ describes a Local Enterprise Office Energy Efficiency Grant covering 75% of eligible costs, up to €10,000. Its listed conditions include having 1–50 employees, not already receiving support from Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland, and completing a Green for Business, Green Start or SEAI energy audit. The FAQ also identifies free SEAI energy audits. Check with the relevant administrator that the grant is open and that its prerequisites still apply before planning a purchase.
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Support for digital upgrades
The NEH FAQ describes a Grow Digital Voucher covering 50% of eligible costs, up to €5,000, for software, IT configuration and training. It lists these prerequisites: complete a free Digital for Business assessment first, have traded for at least six months, employ 1–50 people, and not already be an Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland client. The FAQ separately describes €10,000 Enterprise Ireland Innovation Vouchers for qualifying CRO-registered limited companies working with a publicly funded knowledge provider; it says sole traders are ineligible. Confirm the current application window and detailed conditions with the administrator.
What if a bank will not lend to my business?
A loan may be an option, but it is repayable debt, not a grant. The NEH FAQ describes Microfinance Ireland loans of €2,000–€50,000 for businesses that do not meet mainstream bank criteria, including early-stage firms with limited collateral or credit history. It also points to SBCI-supported products accessed through participating banks or other lenders. Check current eligibility, rates and repayment terms with the lender: the NEH is not the lender.
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What EU support tools can help an Irish business?
The European Commission’s Your Europe SME directory groups resources for funding, information, training and partnerships, and advice. These tools can help with navigation, trade and business development; a directory entry does not mean a grant is open or that a business is eligible.
| Need | Tool or route | What it helps with |
|---|---|---|
| Find finance | Access2Finance | Find EU-supported loans or venture capital. |
| Trade across borders | Access2Markets | Check export and import requirements, including taxes, tariffs, rules of origin and product requirements. The Commission describes it as a free, multilingual tool. |
| Advice and business partners | Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) | Get support for international growth and introductions to business and technology partners. The Irish Department identifies EEN Ireland as a route to tailored advice and partnership opportunities. |
| Digital capability | European Digital Innovation Hubs network | Find digital testing and skills support. |
| Other EU business issues | Your Europe SME directory and Your Europe Advice | Find resources on intellectual property, public procurement and EU-rights disputes; Your Europe Advice offers help on individual EU rights. |
Can a small Irish business apply directly for EU funding?
Sometimes. It depends on the programme, applicant and project; there is no single EU grant that applies to every small business. The Department distinguishes direct EU-managed grants and contracts from indirect support delivered through national or local intermediaries. Direct grants are generally tied to defined project objectives and specific calls. Identify the programme that fits the project, read its current call documents, and contact its national contact point. Enterprise Ireland and EEN Ireland are among the routes the Department identifies for advice and connections.
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Prepare a short profile before contacting the scheme administrator or your LEO. Eligibility is scheme-specific, so use these details to get a precise answer:
- Business location, sector and legal form.
- Trading age, employee count and, where relevant, ownership or existing agency-client status.
- The project’s purpose, proposed timing and costs, including which costs you expect the scheme to cover.
- Any export plans or collaboration requirements, such as working with a knowledge provider.
- The scheme name and the current application window or call documents you are considering.
Ask the administrator to confirm eligibility and whether the call is open before you commit expenditure. A listed maximum or percentage is a scheme ceiling, not a promise of an award or of the maximum amount.
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