John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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47. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of additional support that Budget 2022 will provide for local enterprise offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52579/21]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Budget 2022 sets out to help businesses get back on their feet as we reopen the economy and society. Funding allocated to this in Budget 2022 comes on top of the measures announced in the National Economic Recovery Plan, which sets out how the Government plans to help get more people than ever working in long-term, future-proofed jobs.

The Local Enterprise Offices will receive an additional €2m under Budget 2022, which represents an almost 5% increase in funding for the Local Enterprise Offices. This additional investment will allow each of the 31 Local Enterprise Offices to enhance the role they already play in supporting local and regional development including the launching of the Regional Enterprise Plans.

The revised NDP sets out a strategic ambition of 15,000 net jobs through the Local Enterprise Offices, targeting the strategic priorities of entrepreneurship, competitiveness and digitalisation, sustainability, innovation and exporting.

The additional funding provided in this Budget will be focused on the dual challenges of digitalisation of micro and small companies and addressing the challenges and opportunities in transitioning to a low carbon and sustainable economy. Initiatives such as Green for Micro and LEAN for Micro benefit businesses by increasing cost savings, improving resource efficiency, reducing environmental impacts and enhancing competitiveness and productivity.

The ongoing success of the Trading Online Vouchers Scheme will be built upon by continuing to assist enterprises on their digital journey as well as developing further awareness and training programmes to encourage micro-enterprises to think digital first.