Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 April 2016
221. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to review the local enterprise office policy which restricts mentoring packages to three sessions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5617/16]
View answerAs you will appreciate, I have no direct role in the day-to-day running of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs).
Mentoring is an invaluable tool for new and existing businesses offered by the Local Enterprise Offices. This can be offered as a stand-alone support or in conjunction with direct financial aid in the form of a grant. Clients seeking a mentor complete an application, informing their Local Enterprise Office of their specific mentoring need. The selection of the mentor is made by the LEO, based on the type of mentoring required by the client/company and experience and expertise of the various mentors on their panel. The mentor will carry out an assessment of the business and will liaise with their Local Enterprise Office outlining objectives and also regarding the number of visits they deem necessary. The number of mentoring visits as part of an assignment is a matter for each LEO to decide in consultation with the mentor and is relative to the type of business and/or potential for growth and the available LEO budget.
There is no LEO wide policy in place that limits the mentoring sessions to just three sessions. The budget for this and other support offers is managed at a local level by each Local Enterprise Office.
