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

Today is a milestone as 31 local enterprise offices, LEOs, throughout the country are open for business. The LEOs represent a transformation of the support structure for micro and small enterprises across every county. The new service means that national enterprise policy and local business supports have been brought together to strengthen the local business culture and environment combining the best of the former county and city enterprise boards and the local authorities overseen by the centre of excellence in Enterprise Ireland.

The new service means that national enterprise policy and local business supports have been brought together to strengthen the local business culture and environment, combining the best of the former county and city enterprise boards and the local authorities, overseen by the centre of excellence in Enterprise Ireland.

The 31 LEO offices are now the local hub for enterprise support and will deliver not just the existing range of supports that were available from the city and county enterprise board network, but in addition will provide the following: an enhanced advice and guidance service embracing all other local and national supports, backed by protocols relating to information exchange, mutual contacts and client referrals with other key agencies, including the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Social Protection and the Credit Review Office; seamless progression of clients to Enterprise Ireland; direct referral to the Microfinance Ireland and loan guarantee schemes; and direct advice and guidance on local authority rates, procurement and regulations affecting business. They will have a particular mandate to promote entrepreneurship among groups who represent untapped potential including both women and young entrepreneurs.

The new model of enterprise support offers new ways to enhance the service. Guidance and direction will be provided by the centre of excellence in Enterprise Ireland to develop best practice ideas for the LEO network and to promote innovation among LEOs at local and regional level. Individual service level agreements between Enterprise Ireland and each local authority will offer a framework for periodic review to ensure that impact and value for money are being optimised via the LEO network. The partnership with local authorities offers the opportunity to use the considerable scale and reach of the local authorities to promote entrepreneurship. A larger LEO system supported by 170 dedicated staff as well as a further 40 local authority liaison staff will provide enterprises with very practical opportunities. Additional funding of €3.5million will be provided and a new graduate recruitment programme will take place shortly.

While the existing eligibility criteria for direct financial assistance - micro-enterprises with 10 employees or fewer - will carry forward to the LEOs, the availability of soft supports such as training, mentoring, advice, aiding access to finance and so forth will be expanded and will include local tourism projects.

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