Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2017
745. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will consider, as part of a collective response to the Brexit result, revisiting the proposals relating to setting up a local enterprise office in Drogheda to service the Drogheda and east Meath area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4015/17]
View answerAs previously stated, my Department has no plans to deviate from the current Local Enterprise Office (LEO) model that was put in place following a Government decision in April 2012. This decision, underpinned by primary legislation, provided for the dissolution of the 35 County Enterprise Boards. Subsequently, 31 LEOs were established in each Local Authority Area, with LEO Louth situated in the County Council Offices in Dundalk.
During the first two years of their existence, the LEOs have supported an additional 7,500 net new jobs nationwide in small and micro enterprises. The LEO Capital allocation was increased by €4 million for 2017 to continue this momentum. The LEOs will use the additional monies to enhance the competitiveness and longer-term sustainability of start-ups, micro and small firms, which is of critical importance in the context of Brexit. Targeted initiatives will be rolled out through every LEO, including Louth, to develop capabilities in innovation, market diversification, cost competitiveness and business management.
In addition, a whole of Government approach has been put in place focussing on Brexit. My Department and its agencies are to the forefront of this effort. Ahead of the referendum we conducted a risk assessment of the potential impacts of Brexit across policy areas and this fed into the national level assessment led by the Department of An Taoiseach.
Finally, the Department launched eight Regional Action Plan for Jobs in late 2015 and this included the North East/North West Regional Action Plan for Jobs which covers Counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan & Louth. An implementation Committee is in place and is working hard to deliver on the actions agreed within the plan that was created following extensive consultation with stakeholders. LEO Louth is a member of the Implementation Committee and is very much involved in driving the Regional Action Plan for Jobs agenda in that region.
