Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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632. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to open a local enterprise office in Drogheda to service the significant catchment area of south County Louth and east County Meath (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1251/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The role of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) is to promote entrepreneurship at a local level. The LEOs provide information, guidance and 'soft' supports to anyone seeking to start or grow a business. Subject to certain eligibility, they offer direct grant aid to microenterprises (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 previously stated, my Department has no plans to deviate from the current Local Enterprise Office (LEO) model that was put in place following a Government decision in April 2012. This decision, underpinned by primary legislation, provided for the dissolution of the 35 County Enterprise Boards. Subsequently, 31 LEOs were established in each Local Authority Area, with LEO Louth situated in the County Council Offices in Dundalk.