Kildare's vape shops and e cigarettes sellers 'got no financial help'
Kildare County Council was asked about grants and other financial supports
No grants have been provided to vape shops and e cigarette retailers in County Kildare.
That’s according to Kildare County Council, which says no money has been provided for these businesses by the Local Enterprise Office, which is run in partnership with KCC.
Independent Newbridge councillor Tom McDonnell asked for information from the LEO about “all grants, primary grants, feasibility grants or other financial supports awarded to vape shops, e-cigarette retailers or businesses whose primary activity is the sale of nicotine inhaling products in the last five years.”
He said the LEO should not give money “to these businesses in the future.”
However, a KCC meeting was told that the LEO has at no time given any grants or any other financial supports to vape shops, e-cigarette retailers or similar businesses.
KCC official Alan Dunney pointed out that Kildare LEO is part of a national network of LEOs that operate under agreements between each county council and Enterprise Ireland and “(it) does not set its own operational policies.”
The LEO provides financial support to small businesses with 10 employees or less. It also provides advice about funding as well as business information, enterprise support, training, and mentoring.
It also hosts networking and enterprise events.