Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 July 2014
21. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of local enterprise offices that have opened to date; his views on the roll-out of local enterprise offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29940/14]
View answerOn 15 April 2014, the 35 County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) were legally dissolved under the County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Act 2014 and the 31 new Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) were open for business on the same day. The formal launching of individual LEOs commenced with the National launch in the LEO Westmeath on 29 April 2014. To date, 27 LEOs have been formally launched with two more scheduled for 14 July. The scheduling of the launching of the remaining two LEOs is subject to Ministerial diary availability.
The establishment of the system of Local Enterprise Offices through the Local Authority structure, overseen by Enterprise Ireland, is a significant milestone under the Programme for Government and the Action Plan for Jobs 2014. The LEOs will act as a first-stop-shop for all budding entrepreneurs and also any existing businesses looking to expand. Clients of the LEOs can expect information, guidance and advice in relation to all State supports for enterprise development, and in certain cases, may also qualify for grant support or other "soft" supports such as mentoring or training. It builds on the work done by the CEBs and brings together the work done by the Local Authorities for enterprise development in each County.
