Europe sours for small firms

Small firms get a bad deal from Europe and are often overcharged when making grant applications, according to the Small Firms' Association (SFA). Ms Lorraine Sweeney, chairwoman, told an SFA conference yesterday that, of Ireland's structural fund allocation of £6 billion, small firms only receive £24 million. She added that many small firms were unaware of the plethora of grants available. "A greater effort will have to be made at Irish and European levels to support small firms in acquiring EU funds," she said.