Written answers

Thursday, 25 April 2013

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Local Enterprise Offices Establishment

Photo of Luke FlanaganLuke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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88. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation with regards to the proposed local enterprise offices that local authority rates will not be deducted from grant awards before payment to businesses under the new structures; if he will confirm that all local authority staff to be transferred to new local enterprise offices will have the relevant business expertise to add value to the espoused objectives of job creation, business support and overall economic development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19535/13]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Currently, the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) provide both financial and non-financial assistance to a project subject to certain eligibility criteria and an evaluation and approvals process. Upon the dissolution of the CEBs this function will be delivered by the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) within the Local Authority, on behalf of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and overseen by Enterprise Ireland. The LEOs will form a stand-alone unit within the local authority structure, and through a Framework Service Level Agreement (SLA) between EI and the Local Authorities will be answerable to me for all enterprise policy and budgetary matters. There is no connection between grants for enterprise and local authority rates and therefore there will be no provision for the deduction of local authority rates from grant awards.

Local Authorities have been working with business to support investment and business development at local level, and to the extent that it has been part of their remit hitherto, promoting and fostering entrepreneurship. They deliver essential services to business and can respond to the needs of local businesses speedily and efficiently. Their wide reach in the community makes them an ideal partner and a potential important source of business and growth for micro and small enterprise. The new structures will bring in Local Authorities as direct partners in promoting entrepreneurship and supporting small and micro businesses. Staff currently deployed in Business Support Units of the Local Authorities will be assigned to the LEOs to work alongside existing CEB staff who will be ring-fenced in order to preserve the valuable range of skills and expertise necessary to ensure continuity of service to the CEB/LEO client base.

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