Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In this budget, the Government has a set target with regard to jobs, investment, innovation and building resilience in the face of Brexit shocks. In that regard, I warmly welcome the additional funding of €5 million announced in the budget for the local enterprise offices, LEOs. This brings the LEO capital allocation for 2019 to €27.5 million, which is a significant increase of 22% on the 2018 figure. Since their establishment, the LEOs have been working in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and local authorities and have responded with impressive jobs growth and new ventures locally. At the end of 2017, 37,483 people were employed by LEO-supported client companies. As part of the new funding, business advisers who will focus on key clients with growth potential will be appointed on a competitive basis together with the provision of soft supports such as management training, mentoring and other targeting programmes to address productivity and innovation. Another significant measure open to all LEO clients will be the €300 million future growth loan scheme, which addresses gaps in the marketplace for loan terms longer than five to ten years.

Having regard to the challenge presented by Brexit, a key element in the additional funding will be the establishment of a new customs training programme for all businesses - exporters and importers - to be rolled out in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland. This will ensure that the businesses are adequately informed and have sufficient plans in place to manage what might be new trading relationships on the island, with the UK and more generally.

It is also crucial that retailers and small companies are familiar with the opportunities and challenges posed by the EU digital Single Market. This is why I welcome the doubling of funding from €625,000 to €1.25 million in respect of the initiative to stimulate the online retail sector to be administered by Enterprise Ireland and delivered via two competitive calls.

High standards are an important part of the essential toolkit for SMEs to open up new markets. In that context, I also welcome the additional funding provided to the National Standards Authority of Ireland.

Creativity, design and innovation are key drivers of productivity improvement and export success in key markets. The additional funding of €1.8 million announced in the budget for the Design and Craft Council of Ireland is intended to expand marketing and developing programmes, to address serious risks from Brexit and the loss of craft sales to UK tourists.

A safe business is ultimately productive and profitable but the increased economic activity presents additional health and safety challenges. Consequently, I welcome the Exchequer funding being made available to the Health and Safety Authority for 2019 to enable it to pursue its overall goal of making healthy and safe workplaces an integral part of doing business in Ireland. Among other things, the funding will be key in increasing support and advisory activities to industry and enterprises, especially SMEs, with the emphasis on practical preparations for Brexit and identifying trends in the cross-Border trade in chemicals for domestic and industry users.

I further welcome the additional funding in the budget for the Workplace Relations Commission. This will facilitate the improved delivery of full range of its services to regional locations.

Collectively, the budget measures announced will provide my Department and the offices and agencies with the necessary supports and resources to continue to be centrally involved in strengthening the indigenous business sectors and in building resilience within the regions.

I did my best answering in the time.

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