David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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31. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 8 and 11 of 13 March 2014; the strategies and policies in place to encourage enterprise and employment in regional towns; the progress in the development of a regional enterprise strategy to better integrate the efforts of enterprise agencies and regional stakeholders and the development of local enterprise plans by the local enterprise offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39094/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The aim of the Action Plan for Jobs is to support enterprise growth and job creation in all regions of the country. As I pointed out in my reply to the Deputy's questions of 13 March last, our efforts are not specifically focused on regional towns, but on building the enterprise base across the regions.

The Action Plan for Jobs 2014 includes a commitment to develop a framework for Regional Enterprise Strategies that will enable us to better integrate the efforts of the enterprise development agencies and other regional stakeholders in supporting enterprise growth and jobs in the regions. While there is already a significant amount of practical cooperation taking place at local and regional levels between many public bodies, developing a framework in which cooperation can be improved is timely.

I have been actively working on a template for the development of Regional Enterprise Strategies and it is my intention that this framework will be applied initially on a pilot basis to produce action-oriented plans to support enterprise growth and jobs in the Midlands region and the South East region. These pilots will inform any adaptations that might need to be made prior to the framework being applied to other regions.

This approach to regional development will build on regional strengths, drive and support regional entrepreneurship, connect regional enterprise partners in new ways, and enhance the environment supporting enterprise. The output of this process will lead to actions and a subsequent programme of work to drive regional employment and economic prosperity in all regions.

All 31 Local Enterprise Offices have prepared a Local Enterprise Development Plan for 2014 and preparations are underway for comprehensive 2015 Plans. These Plans set out strategic objectives around which the LEOs, as First Stop Shops, will deliver a range of supports, advice and information to the small and micro business community. The Plans include targets for the key metrics of business start-ups, business expansions and jobs created/sustained as well as initiatives to drive entrepreneurship and greater levels of economic activity. In this way, the LEOs will contribute to an improved and balanced local and regional development.

The 2015 LEO Local Enterprise Development Plans will be developed bearing in mind Government commitments to driving forward greater levels of entrepreneurship and job creation and improved regional balance. Enterprise Ireland is working with the LEOs to further develop robust performance measurement indicators and associated metrics.

In addition, the LEOs will continue to work closely with other Government Departments and State Agencies to ensure that the model of State support to the micro and small business community is integrated, informative and highly relevant.