Local Enterprise Office Priming Grant
Priming Grant
Open continuously
No deadline — apply whenever you are ready.
Maximum 50% of the investment up to €80,000; the LEO can approve up to €150,000 in certain/exceptional situations. Salary costs are supported at a maximum of €15,000 per full-time job created, subject to the 50% limit.
You must co-fund 50%.
Local Enterprise Office (Enterprise Ireland / local authorities)
public · regional
Deadline: rolling — Applications assessed by the local LEO on an ongoing basis, typically via an evaluation committee.
This funder does not publish a success rate. We rank it using the rate observed across similar programmes and label it as an estimate rather than implying we know.
Major bid — written case, budget, possibly partners.
You fund 50% yourself.
This is de minimis aid. It counts against the €300,000 ceiling that applies to your company across a rolling three years in this member state (Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2831). If a new award would take you over, Article 3(7) disqualifies that award in full rather than reducing it — so check your headroom before you apply, not after.
Who can apply
- Under 2 years old
- Up to 10 employees
- micro enterprises
- Sectors: manufacturing, any
- Stage: pre_seed, seed
- Locally registered entity required
A business start-up grant for micro enterprises employing up to 10 employees, within 18 months of starting. Eligible costs include capital items, equipment, utilities, salary costs (max €15,000 per job), consultancy, innovation and marketing. Retail, personal services, professional services, construction and local services are ineligible.
How to apply
- Contact your Local Enterprise Office to discuss eligibility. — link
- Prepare a business plan with costed investment and job creation projections.
- Submit the application to the LEO evaluation committee.
What you will need
- Business plan
- Financial projections and quotes for capital items
- Tax clearance
Source. https://www.localenterprise.ie/FAQs/response/What-grants-are-available-from-the-LEO-/ — checked 2026-08-14
"The maximum Priming Grant payable must not exceed 50% of the investment up to €80,000 but the LEO can approve up to €150,000 in certain situations."