Skip to main content
Normal View

Local Enterprise Offices Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 January 2016

Thursday, 28 January 2016

Questions (132)

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

132. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of local enterprise office supported jobs by county in 2014 and 2015 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3757/16]

View answer

Written answers

The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ State support service for micro and small businesses in each local area. They provide advice and direction, covering all government supports and requirements, to anyone who wishes to start a new business or expand an existing one.

The LEOs provide funding for projects primarily in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sector which over time have the potential to develop into strong export entities. There are three main categories of grant under which direct financial assistance is provided – Priming, Feasibility and Business Expansion. They also provide soft supports such as training and mentoring and the LEO staff can advise as to which supports would be most appropriate.

In 2014, based on the Annual Employment Survey of LEO clients, total direct employment among the 6,058 LEO client companies stood at 31,326 (full- and part-time), an increase of 4,012 jobs in the year. Details of LEO supported jobs by county in 2014 are shown in the following table.

Statistics in relation to the number of jobs created last year through support provided by the LEOs are currently being compiled as part of the 2015 Survey of client companies. Figures for 2015, including on an individual LEO basis, will be announced as soon as the results are available.

As well as existing businesses, the LEOs support entrepreneurs to start a new business; in 2015, 500 start-up companies were supported through the LEOs.

In addition, any business can use the LEOs to help them to access finance from Micro Finance Ireland (MFI). The LEOs can support enterprises through the MFI application, review and approval processes. In 2015, 207 applications with a total value of €3.2m and with 477 associated jobs, made via the LEOs, were approved by MFI.

In 2015, the Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) competition, which was run by the LEOs, attracted applications from 1,400 young entrepreneurs. The financial support provided to the 92 winners will lead to job creation in the future. Furthermore, by November 2015, some 1,500 businesses had completed, or were in the process of completing, their trading online projects under the Trading Online Voucher Scheme, which is also run by the LEOs.

LEO Employment 2014 - by NUTS III Region

 

LEO

No of Clients

Total Jobs 2014

Total Jobs Growth 2014

Cavan

195

1,049

108

Donegal

159

1,223

45

Leitrim

126

388

117

Louth

197

656

66

Monaghan

170

904

61

Sligo

202

1,103

73

Border

Border Total

1,049

5,323

470

Kildare

103

683

63

Meath

180

806

154

Wicklow

97

572

137

Mid-East

Mid-East Total

380

2,061

354

Clare

161

1,346

202

Tipperary North

130

482

107

Limerick

216

1,292

198

Mid-West

Mid-West Total

507

3,120

507

Laois

  85

384

35

Longford

222

899

75

Offaly

194

931

115

WestMeath

242

1,284

38

Midlands

Midlands Total

743

3,498

263

Carlow

206

1,152

207

Kilkenny

243

1,154

196

Tipperary South

148

895

62

Waterford

300

1,515

152

Wexford

170

1,070

210

South-East

South-East Total

1,067

5,786

827

Cork City

96

656

191

Cork South

155

785

171

Cork West/North

215

1,277

187

Kerry

444

1,794

85

South West

South-West Total

910

4,512

634

Galway County/City

239

882

105

Mayo

182

1,060

53

Roscommon

141

641

6

West

West Total

562

2,583

164

Dublin City

258

1,431

453

Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown

211

1,304

156

Dublin Fingal

142

562

126

Dublin South

229

1,146

58

Dublin

Dublin Total

840

4,443

793

 

Grand Total

6,058

31,326

4,012

Top
Share