A Priming Grant is a business start-up grant, available to micro enterprises within the first 18 months of start-up.

Priming grants may be available for sole traders, partnerships or limited companies that fulfil the following criteria:

• Located and operating within the LEO’s geographic area
• A business which on growth will fit the Enterprise Ireland portfolio
• A business employing up to 10 employees 
• A manufacturing or internationally traded services business 
• A domestically traded service business with the potential to trade internationally
• Need for money and having regard to deadweight and displacement 

Eligible clients may be awarded a Priming Grant within the first eighteen months of setting up the business.

The maximum Priming Grant payable shall be 50% of the investment or €150,000 whichever is the lesser.

Expenditure may be considered under the following headings:

• Capital items
• Salary costs
• Consultancy/Innovation/Marketing costs
• General overhead costs

All grants of a value greater than or equal to €50,000 or with a cumulative value of €100,000 over three years require Enterprise Ireland Approval. Grants over €80,000 and up to €150,000 shall be the exception and shall only apply in the case of projects that clearly demonstrate a potential to graduate to Enterprise Ireland.  In all other cases, the maximum grant shall be 50% of the investment or €80,000 whichever is the lesser.  Subject to the 50% limit, a maximum grant of €15,000 per full time job created shall apply in respect of any employment support granted. 

For eligibility see section on Eligibility Criteria