John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate Deputy Calleary on his appointment to this important area of responsibility.

Micro and small businesses are crucial parts of our economy. Ensuring more such businesses can start up, expand and export is a key pillar of our plans for jobs and growth. For this reason, the Government has decided to implement an ambitious reform of the delivery of services to small and micro businesses. This will include the development of a new small and microbusiness division within Enterprise Ireland as a centre of excellence in the provision of supports to that sector; the dissolution of the county and city enterprise boards, CEBs, and the transfer of their functions, assets and liabilities to Enterprise Ireland; the establishment of local enterprise offices, LEOs, to provide a high quality, innovative, one-stop shop support service for small businesses within local authorities and early access to services provided by national bodies; the integration of key local authority business services into the LEOs; and the promotion of a local environment in which enterprise can thrive.

Not only is it important that this restructuring be conducted as a priority, we must also ensure the new model is fit for purpose. A high level implementation working group chaired by my Department is progressing the range of issues involved, including a focus on functions, structures and staffing, all of which will form the basis of a detailed and ambitious service level agreement between Enterprise Ireland and the local authorities. A project plan is in preparation that will set out clear milestones and timelines for implementation. I intend to complete the process as rapidly as possible.

In tandem with the work of the implementation working group, my Department is engaged with the Office of the Attorney General regarding the detailed primary legislation that will be necessary to implement the new arrangements. My ambition is to give administrative effect to the new structures as soon as possible and in advance of the formal enactment of legislation. To this end, I plan to deliver a series of significant interim milestones during the transitional arrangement. These are in preparation.

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