Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of this important Bill. I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Perry, and the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, on bringing it before the House for debate today.

This Bill gives effect to the Government's decision to reform the system for delivery of State supports to micro and small enterprises by dissolving the current county enterprise board structure and creating an enhanced national enterprise support model to be delivered by local authorities on behalf of Enterprise Ireland through local enterprise offices.

The new local enterprise office network will become the first port of call for new entrepreneurs and will also be charged with the responsibility of providing the necessary supports for existing micro and small business owners. Local enterprise offices will be supported by Enterprise Ireland's micro enterprise and small business division. This type of approach will ensure there is a standard uniform progressive approach to supporting indigenous micro-enterprise and the small business sector which is vital, particularly as the economy emerges from the recession.

County and city enterprise boards have a strong track record in job supports over the past 20 years. I pay tribute to Mr. Eamonn Kelly, the CEO of the Clare Enterprise Board, and his staff, and those who worked previously in the county enterprise board, for their work. The new LEO structure will ensure that his good work will continue as the new system will build on the strengths of the county and city enterprise boards.

The new local enterprise offices will deliver tailored supports to the highest standards, benchmarked by Enterprise Ireland through its centre of excellence and delivered in partnership with the local authorities through a service level agreement.

Enterprise Ireland's microenterprise and small business division, having established a centre of excellence, will lead, develop and manage the enhanced support service that this Bill will deliver. The key functions of the centre of excellence will include promoting innovation in the approach to supporting start-up and entrepreneurship; developing the capability of the LEO network to set best-in-class standards; a lead role within Enterprise Ireland for the development and review of service level agreements and the promotion of high levels of performance and appropriate metrics; reviewing and benchmarking the services and supports available from each LEO to promote best practice; and developing a common approach to mentoring and mentor management.

The small business sector is the major employer in this country. We have more than 200,000 SMEs in Ireland employing more than 650,000 people. The move towards creating this new service will mean that national enterprise policy and local business supports will be brought together to strengthen the local business culture and environment. There is huge merit in combining the best of the county enterprise boards and local authorities within a framework set by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and overseen by Enterprise Ireland.

The 31 local enterprise offices will have 171 dedicated staff who will be supported by additional local authority liaison personnel creating a local hub for enterprise support. This hub will deliver direct grants, mentoring and training. It will use local business expertise to evaluate projects and provide training and mentoring on starting a business, including drawing up a business plan or accessing commercial space, direct referral of clients to Enterprise Ireland, and direct referral to Microfinance Ireland and loan guarantee schemes, together with providing an enhanced advice and guidance service embracing all other local and national supports. Each LEO will develop a local plan which will provide a focus on boosting enterprise. This approach will energise the local enterprise environment, which will promote further start-ups and expansion of small business.

Like the previous speaker, Deputy Joe O'Reilly, I renew my call for a focus on job creation in the regions. It is commonplace to hear of job announcements in Dublin, Cork and Galway but not enough job announcements in counties such as Clare. This is progressive legislation which will combine all supports under one roof. Business people in County Clare and those contemplating setting up businesses want to present at a one-stop shop where all the supports will be explored with people who have the expertise. The Bill will bring that about and for that reason I support it. The Bill will lead to the creation of a first-stop shop that will offer the full range of State supports that are available to the micro- and small business sector, which is such an important sector in our country.

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