Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In regard to the difference between the former county and city enterprise boards and the local enterprise offices, first, we have created a centre of excellence in Enterprise Ireland which, for the first time, will drive small business and start-ups. We will have a national policy for start-ups and micro-business, which will have service level agreements with the local enterprise offices. This means there will no longer be 35 independent boards in operation. New businesses will be subject to service level agreements, thus ensuring uniform quality and a maximisation of the resources of the network. The LEOs are located within the local authorities, which means they will have the might and heft of the local authorities, which provide many enterprise supports, behind them.

The Deputy smirks. Perhaps he would consider reading the county and city managers' report on enterprise supports, which states that more than 2,000 of the measures being operated by local authorities are designed to support enterprise development.

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