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

The Deputy will be aware that as part of the action plan for jobs, the Government announced a plan for a major reform of the existing support structure for micro and small enterprises in February this year. The aim is to create a centre of excellence within Enterprise Ireland for small business support; to establish a first stop-shop at local level for the support of small and micro business; to integrate local authority business support services with local enterprise supports; and to create a network of local enterprise offices delivered from within the local authority working under a service level agreement with Enterprise Ireland.

There has been a series of consultations during the development of these proposals. They were discussed at the nationwide consultative meetings on the action plan for jobs. On foot of the Government decision in April to dissolve the county enterprise boards and transfer the functions, assets and liabilities to Enterprise Ireland, an implementation working group was formed, chaired by the Department. It has involved representatives of the key services that need to be integrated into this new model. It is developing the plans for the detailed implementation of the decision including the role of the Enterprise Ireland division as a centre of excellence; the range of services to be delivered; the service level agreement; and staffing and other issues. This implementation group is a management group to work out the details of the proposed reforms and does not include representative associations.

Our plans for the support of small and micro businesses have also been with the advisory group for small business, subsequent to which some of the members of the advisory group met the implementation group. The advisory group is also being consulted on the action plan for jobs 2013.

The Minister and I yesterday published a consultation paper which sets out the roadmap for the implementation of this reform process. I am keen to receive the opinions from the micro and small business sector across Ireland, particularly on how the changes to be brought about can best provide support to the right people, at the right time and at the right level.

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