Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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71. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans for targeted investment in job creation measures for north Fingal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5756/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and ‘soft’ supports in the form of training and mentoring to anyone wishing to start or grow a business.

The LEOs provide a ‘signposting’ service in relation to all relevant state supports available through agencies such as Revenue, the Department of Social Protection, Education and Training Boards, Credit Review Office, Microfinance Ireland.

The LEOs also offer advice and guidance in areas such as Local Authority rates, Public Procurement and other regulations affecting business.

The LEOs can 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. Subject to certain eligibility criteria, the LEOs can provide financial assistance within three main categories, i.e., Feasibility Grants (investigating the potential of a business idea) Priming Grants (to part-fund a start-up) and Business Development Grants for existing businesses that want to expand.

It should be noted that the LEOs do not provide direct grant-aid in areas such as retail, personal services, local professional services, construction/local building services, as this may give rise to duplication of services or the displacement of existing businesses.

As well as promoting the full suite of Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Services to support enterprise and job creation in the north of the county, Fingal County Council is rolling out the following initiatives in North Fingal:

- Fingal County Council is currently developing a new business park by servicing over 50 acres of land at Stephenstown in Balbriggan. Fingal will work with IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland to promote the new park as an investment location and the business case for the investment forecasts the creation of 900 jobs in the medium-term.

- The Fingal Skills Strategy is being developed in response to priorities identified in the Fingal Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) 2016 – 2021. The strategy, which is nearing completion, provides clear evidence, based on extensive consultations with industry, on future skills needs to ensure Fingal and has the necessary talent pool to meet industry demands. The strategy has particular implications for education and training providers, with whom Fingal are working closely.

- Fingal County Council has actively engaged with national schemes such as the Town and Village Renewal Scheme to improve towns and villages throughout the County. Fingal County Council has also developed bespoke town improvement schemes such as the Balbriggan Town Centre Shop Front Refurbishment Scheme which has assisted 36 businesses to a total amount of €53,000 leading to clear public realm improvements in the town.

- Fingal County Council has connected with the business community in the County to develop corporate social responsibility schemes that facilitate engagement with local schools to promote student engagement in STEM subjects.

- Ardgillan and Bremore Castles and Newbridge House have been identified as strategic tourist attractions which have the ability to attract a large number of visitors to the area . A capital programme of approximately €7 million has been assigned to develop these attractions . Building on the success of the Council’s investment in Malahide Castle, this development will promote North Fingal as a major tourism hub in the Dublin Region and adjacent to Ireland’s Ancient East, significantly increasing visitor numbers. This investment and development has the potential to create 700 direct and indirect jobs in the town of Balbriggan, which currently has an above average unemployment rate.

- Fingal County Council continues to support the provision of workspace facilities for small businesses through the BEAT Enterprise Centre in Balbriggan, one of three very successful community-based Enterprise Centres in the County.