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

The micro and small business sector is central to Ireland’s overall economic recovery. The purpose of restructuring the current model for the delivery of State supports to that sector is to rejuvenate and enhance the national model. The new model is designed to harness the best elements of local government and the enterprise agencies to support local business and contribute to local development.

To that effect we have decided to dissolve the current 35 separate board structures and create a first-stop-shop at local level for small and micro business. We will bring local enterprise support into an integrated national network of Local Enterprise Offices, LEOs, offering progression to the existing national programmes run by Enterprise Ireland. The plan is to combine enterprise support for small business at local level with the business support service from local authorities into a single LEO and locate this office within local authorities, but operating under a service level agreement with Enterprise Ireland. We will enlist the support of local authorities in creating the best possible environment for small business in their area and benchmark the progress being made. Furthermore, we will work with local business and the wider community to create a supportive network for entrepreneurship.

While I am aware that there are some reservations about bringing the current county enterprise boards within the umbrella of the local authorities, I believe local authorities have great potential to be a vibrant partner for the development of small business. Many local authorities have been very innovative in providing space for start-ups, opening up procurement opportunities, supporting the marketing of local producers, offering incentives, streamlining access to planning and licensing and so forth. However, this is a challenge for the local authorities to do more and to bring the culture of “think small business first” into their work.

The Minister, Deputy Bruton and I have consulted widely in the context of this proposed reform. On foot of a consultation paper we published at the end of last year setting out the road map for the implementation of the reform process, more than 80 submissions were received. Many of the submissions make positive suggestions on how the reform could be rolled out effectively across a range of issues. These responses are currently being examined and will be factored into shaping the operational scope of the LEOs.

Both the Minister and I view the reform as an important opportunity to get a combined effort in behind start-ups and small business and we shall vigorously work to harness the potential of the new model.

See this speech in context