Written answers

Thursday, 22 November 2012

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Local Enterprise Offices

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the reason business organisations were not included in the consultation group on the future of local enterprise boards; his views on the location of local enterprise board offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51856/12]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Earlier this year, the Government decided to proceed with a major commitment in the Programme for Government to reform the system for delivery of support to small and micro businesses to make the operating environment more coherent, responsive and conducive to entrepreneurship. The aim is to deliver high quality, accessible micro-enterprise and small business supports that promote the creation and maintenance of employment, nurture entrepreneurship and innovation and a culture of delivery.

The programme of reform will draw on the best experience in the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs), Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authorities in an integrated fashion. A First-Stop-Shop will be created at local level bringing local enterprise support into an integrated national network of Local Enterprise Offices (LEOS) situated within Local Authorities, operating under a Service Level Agreement with Enterprise Ireland (EI).

Following the publication of the Action Plan for Jobs 2012, I conducted a nationwide consultation process with business, the purpose of which was to outline the Government’s approach to the creation of employment and to hear the views and ideas of entrepreneurs on what type of supports they required to protect existing jobs and create new ones. In the course of my interaction with business people on the ground, I learned that in many instances there was a dearth of awareness of many of the schemes available to support small and micro businesses and that an appetite existed within enterprise circles for more extensive business orientated information and more user friendly points of access - and that there is a clear need for a network of first-stop-shops for enterprise support at a local level.

On foot of the Government decision in April to dissolve the CEBs and transfer the functions, assets and liabilities to EI, an Implementation Working Group (IWG) was formed, chaired by my Department. Whilst business organisations were not included in the IWG, I have continued to consult with them primarily through the Advisory Group for Small Business (AGSB). The AGSB raised concerns about the delivery of the new model through a Local Authority entity. The IWG extended an invitation to representatives of the AGSB which I also attended and this was a useful opportunity for a robust and informative exchange of views. I am satisfied that the AGSB have a clear understanding of the objective of this reform process and that their concerns were addressed. The IWG has made significant progress in determining the structures, functions and staffing arrangements for the new model. In tandem, the establishment of a Micro and Small Business Unit to develop a Centre of Excellence within Enterprise Ireland is at an advanced stage.

Yesterday, as part of my ongoing efforts to engage and consult with the business community in particular, I published a consultation paper which sets out the vision 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.

Within the next few weeks, I intend to engage with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs to facilitate discussion and input on the draft Heads of the legislation required to implement the earlier Government Decision.

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