Mary Harney, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment today (Thursday 21st January, 1999) launched a guide on how to finance your business, an initiative specifically aimed at the small business sector. The new publication "How to ... finance your business" is the result of a partnership between the European Commission, the Department and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Speaking at the launch, the Tánaiste stated "Ireland's enterprise culture is now widely recognised and reflects the continuing development of all sectors of the economy. The small business sector is rapidly developing in terms of competence and capability. There is still however a knowledge gap surrounding the process of funding a business and our new Guide addresses this. I believe that this publication will enhance management capabilities and lead to new business growth and stability."

The Guide incorporates a book and compendium in a slip case. It is an extremely comprehensive management tool. It deals with the full range of financial issues facing small business including, how to get what you want from the bank, how to access other funds such as Venture Capital and BES funding. It also includes a comprehensive guide to sources of grant and other assistance available to business in Ireland.

The new Guide will be introduced to new businesses across the country in a series of workshops to be held by PricewaterhouseCoopers in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland and the other State agencies. The Guide will also be available from the Government Publications Sale Office, Sun Alliance House, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2, priced £10.00

The Tánaiste highlighted her Department's specific role in fostering and encouraging the development of small business; "SMEs have been and will continue to be, an integral part of Ireland's economic success story, as evidenced by the steady rise of jobs created in this sector in recent years. My Department's mission is to improve the operating environment for small business and services firms and I will continue to bring forward measures to maintain and enhance this improving environment."

This is the second publication towards bridging the information deficit that the Department, with the support of the European Commission, has commissioned. Last year the Tánaiste launched "Starting Your Own Business", which has been extremely well received, with over 14,000 copies in circulation.