Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

19. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will outline the time table for establishment of the LEO’s; and the way he intends to ensure equality of service and outcomes across all areas. [24446/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Significant progress to implement the Government Decision on the reform has been made. A new Micro and Small Business Division has been established in Enterprise Ireland and via a Centre of Excellence will be responsible for developing an improved environment for small and micro business and utilise Enterprise Ireland’s (EI) experience and specialised sectoral approaches to business innovation and development. It will lead, develop and manage the enhancement of a support service, delivered through the LEOs, that generates innovative, small and micro-enterprises capable of increasing, employment, exports and value added to the Irish economy.

On Monday last, along with my colleagues the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government Phil Hogan and the Minister for Small Business John Perry, I published the Framework Service Level Agreement (SLA) and launched the Branding/Logo for the LEOs. The Framework SLA is an important step in the overall project since it sets out clearly budgets and project evaluation methods as well as a series of demanding metrics and targets for the delivery of services by the LEOs, including the numbers of jobs and businesses to be supported. An Enterprise Development Plan for each LEO will be devised annually by the LA/LEO, agreed by EI and appended to the SLA to take account of local circumstances. My Department will be furnished annually with copies of each signed SLA and the respective Enterprise Development Plans. The plan will address agreed metrics and include targets which will be established for each LEO. A key element of this new structure will be the consistent application of policy across all LEOs from the evaluation of applications to the spending of budgets allocated.

There has also been a significant level of engagement at local level between County Managers and CEOs of the CEBs to discuss administrative plans for locations and accommodation. Our priorities over the coming months will be finalising arrangements for the transfer of CEB staff and amalgamating with the Business Support Units of the Local Authorities as well as the migration of IT and financial systems to ensure a smooth transition for both staff and clients. Protocols between Government bodies (e.g. Revenue, NEES, SOLAS, Credit Review Office, Microfinance Ireland, Companies Registration Office) to provide information and access/dedicated points of contact for referral of LEO clients are in the development process.

Legislation to dissolve the CEBs and transfer their functions to Enterprise Ireland is being drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and I anticipate it will be published shortly.