Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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265. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he is satisfied that the enterprise boards provide adequate business advisors with broad knowledge of a wide range of business types, and models to the start-up businesses they are assigned to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6141/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the first-stop-shop front line service assisting in delivering business growth and jobs for the micro-enterprise sector. They pull together all the players – other Government Departments and Agencies – to support everyone with a good business idea and strengthen the enterprise sector in the local area. The LEOs are the first port of call in terms of advice, direction, training and, in certain circumstances, grant support for anyone who wishes to start or expand a business.

The main role for the Business Advisors and Assistant Business Advisors working within all LEOs is to help meet the business development needs of all clients that come to the LEO for business advice. In performing this task, the Advisors rely upon their wealth of experience as well as the range of formal training courses that they have attended. In this regard, staff in the LEOs need to be able to respond to changing markets and, to this end, the Centre of Excellence in Enterprise Ireland is working with the LEOs to develop and implement a training plan that meets the ongoing training needs of all LEO staff.

Furthermore, LEOs maintain a list of experienced mentors to whom clients can be assigned, as necessary. For example, Business Advisors can refer clients to a mentor currently working within their sector who has specialist skills not available to the staff in the LEO. These mentors can provide the clients with practical advice and guidance as well as market and business insights and, if relevant, introductions.

I am therefore satisfied that the Business Advisors in the LEOs can provide clients with, or direct them to, the supports necessary to establish and grow their business.