Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 June 2014
254. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the creation of local enterprise strategies by each of the local enterprise offices for its corresponding areas; if there are specific timeframes in which strategies must be prepared; if such strategies will include public consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27344/14]
View answerThe Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are responsible for the delivery of a range of services and supports to the micro enterprise and small business sector, as set out in the Service Level Agreements (SLAs) between Enterprise Ireland and each of the Local Authorities. These services and supports cover four key areas: Business Information and Advisory Services, Enterprise Support Services, Entrepreneurship Support Services and Local Enterprise Development Services.
The SLAs detail the relevant policies, operational guidelines, metrics and other provisions to which all LEOs are subject. In order to suitably tailor the service level required in each LEO area, each LEO and its associated Local Authority (LA) is required to develop an annual local Enterprise Development Plan for its functional area, in agreement with EI, and append this to the SLA to take account of local circumstances. These Plans will set out a range of measures aimed at directing enterprise development and encouraging entrepreneurship within the LEO functional area. A series of associated performance metrics and targets are currently being finalised by the Centre of Excellence (CofE) in Enterprise Ireland, in conjunction with the LAs and the LEOs, against which the performance of the LEOs will be measured.
