Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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67. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is satisfied that the current staffing levels at Enterprise Ireland Cork regional offices meet the demands for County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62133/22]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the Deputy is referring to both Enterprise Ireland’s Cork office and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) in Cork.

There are currently 20 staff employed at Enterprise Ireland’s Cork regional office. The staff cover a wide remit of interests to serve County Cork and the Southwest region generally.

There are also currently 28 staff based in the Cork Local Enterprise Offices serving the Cork City, Cork South and Cork North/West.

I have no reason to believe that the total staff complement is insufficient to meet the business service requirements for County Cork.

The regional office in Cork provides a range of advisory services to businesses in the food, life sciences, engineering, digital technologies, fintech and business & consumer services sectors. In addition to providing advisory supports, the Cork office also offers assistance to potential exporters and provides a very good service for high potential startup companies looking to source seed funding for new high potential businesses.

The needs of companies seeking to innovate and expand their Research and Development capabilities are serviced by R&D advisory staff in Cork. Advice on the availability of funding for climate transition and sustainability is addressed through a representative from Enterprise Ireland’s Climate Action and Sustainability Unit.

In relation to overall staffing levels, under public sector staffing, recruitment and pay rules, Departments and Agencies are required to remain within their approved pay ceilings and staffing numbers while maintaining services to the greatest possible extent.