Written answers

Thursday, 23 November 2017

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Local Enterprise Offices

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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11. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if enhanced resources will be provided to LEOs of Border counties (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49462/17]

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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This Government is substantially strengthening its focus on the possible implications of Brexit in order to safeguard the competitiveness of the Irish economy against any potential negative impacts.

My Department and its Agencies play a key role in implementing the Government’s policies to stimulate the productive capacity of the economy and create an environment which supports job creation and sustainment of existing jobs.

As the Deputy has acknowledged, last week my Department published its plan ‘Building Stronger Business – Responding to Brexit by competing, innovating and trading’. This plan focuses on our responses to the range of challenges and opportunities arising as a result of Brexit, including those of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs).

The LEOs are the first-stop-shop for anyone seeking guidance and support on starting or growing their business in Ireland. They aim to promote entrepreneurship, foster business start-ups and develop existing micro and small businesses, especially those with export potential. Financial supports are provided to new start-ups and businesses with 10 employees or fewer in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sector which, over time, have the potential to develop into strong export entities.

As stated in the plan, I secured an additional €4m in capital funding for the LEOs this year which has, and will continue to fund, a range of measures put in place to supplement LEO supports.

An additional €4m in capital funding has also been allocated to the LEOs in 2018, and this will ensure that a suite of LEO Brexit supports are available to micro and small businesses through the 31 LEOs nationwide. These supports, which are aimed at strengthening the capacity of micro and small businesses to better cope with the changing external environment, especially Brexit, include:

- Access to the ‘Brexit SME Scorecard’ online tool where micro and smaller businesses can self-diagnose their readiness for Brexit;

- A ‘Technical Assistance for Micro-enterprises’ grant designed to support qualifying businesses to diversify into new markets, enabling companies to explore and develop new market opportunities;

- A ‘Lean for Micro’ programme available nationwide to help small businesses become more efficient and competitive;

- A ‘LEO Innovation and Investment Fund’ pilot programme to support innovation in micro-enterprises and to help them become investor ready so that they can scale their businesses;

- Tailored mentoring to address Brexit-related business challenges;

- Targeted training on specific Brexit challenges, including financial aspects and capability building in innovation, competitiveness and opportunity diagnosis; and

- Continued information, advice and guidance across all 31 LEOs and regionally.

The LEOs will also:

- prepare and disseminate a suite of online information addressing practical issues aimed at micro-enterprises.

- conduct a survey of locally trading businesses to better understand the exposure and opportunities arising from Brexit amongst this cohort.

- continue to be proactive in identifying client businesses that are exposed to Brexit and to help them to plan their response, including exploiting new opportunities and leveraging the suite of LEO supports available.

- seek to leverage the Regional Competitive Funds to drive collaborative initiatives and peer-to-peer networking amongst micro and small businesses in certain sectors and activities.

In addition, the six LEOs in the Border region are working together with their Northern Ireland counterparts under the EU Co-Innovate Programme.  The aim of Co-Innovate is to give SMEs from the manufacturing and tradable services sectors in the eligible regions the tools and tailored support to help them to innovate, differentiate and compete successfully.

These initiatives supplement the core services provided by the LEOs to the micro and small business sector. These services include advice and guidance, training and mentoring, a ‘signposting’ and referrals service to other State supports, as well as financial assistance to micro-enterprises in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sector. For example, LEO Dublin City is running a series of Start Your Own Business courses over the coming months and LEO Fingal have scheduled a number of training courses addressing issues such as website development and the use of social media to promote a company.

Events such as the National Enterprise Awards and the County finals of the Ireland's Best Young Entrepreneur competition showcase the range and quality of LEO clients and provide avenues for LEOs to promote their suite of services to stakeholders.

Finally, the majority of LEOs currently have a full staff complement, and arrangements are at an advanced stage for the filling of the small number of existing vacancies. The first phase of the LEO Graduate scheme is coming to an end, and it is intended that the next scheme, which will provide for a placement in most LEOs, will be in place during Q1 2018.

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