Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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347. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the situation regarding organisations that can be supported by Enterprise Ireland as opposed to the local employment offices, and that have part-time staff who are taken into account, or disregarded, in terms of the ten employees that are required for a business to be dealt with by Enterprise Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45136/24]

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Enterprise Ireland (EI) and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), aim to ensure that companies of all sizes are provided with a flexible model of service in response to their growth and development needs. EI, as the agency with responsibility to develop Irish industry and enterprise, assists businesses in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors in achieving their ambitions through direct advice and funding in conjunction with the network of 31 LEOs.

The LEOs promote entrepreneurship, foster start-ups and develop existing micro and small enterprises at a local level, delivering advisory and funding assistance and providing referral services for other state supports. Building on this, Enterprise Ireland works collaboratively with the wider enterprise policy ecosystem across government, investors, research and educational institutions, industry associations and the private sector. Working together, they aim to meet the needs of enterprises at all stages of growth and development, from nascent entrepreneurs to large Irish multinationals.

LEOs are the first stop shop for every business in the country and are open and accessible to signpost businesses in the right direction of advisory and financial support. LEOs have a key role in the small business ecosystem in Ireland, offering a wide range of mentoring and training supports, supplemented with consultancy programmes that give vital support to businesses at key stages of their development.

The range of supports and services provided by LEOs has broadened in recent years and the LEO Policy Statement, which I launched earlier this year, cements their role in providing services to a wider range of businesses within our local communities. The LEO mandate was also expanded in 2023, to financially aid export ambitious companies employing more than 10 and up to 50 full time employees. The framework supports the extension of direct financial assistance to small companies in the manufacturing and internationally traded sectors to become export ready. This aligns with the aims of the White Paper on Enterprise to 2030.

LEOs work with Enterprise Ireland to ensure that businesses of all sizes are assisted on their development journey from start-up to scaling. They are aligned with the EI Strategy supporting entrepreneurs and businesses thus ensuring a pathway of progression from LEO to EI client status.