Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2020
444. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if funding will be provided for a local enterprise office for Drogheda and east County Meath to assist Drogheda to deal with the effects of each possible Brexit scenario; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2783/20]
View answerThe Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports for anyone intending to start or grow a business.
My Department, through the LEOs, has continued to develop a range of supports to help local businesses in preparation for the challenges of Brexit.
In that regard, both the Louth and Meath LEOs encourage a strong spirit of enterprise throughout their respective County areas and ensure that all micro-businesses in the Counties are supported on the basis of needs and qualifying criteria equally. Notwithstanding that the offices of LEO Louth are located in the County Council Offices in Dundalk, I am assured that the full range of programmes and activities that it delivers are dispersed evenly throughout the County. Similarly, LEO Meath provides the same business supports throughout the County including the Laytown/Bettystown Municipal District having engaged in numerous mentor assignments and training programmes for LEO clients based in East Meath.
I note that you have inquired about funding for a new LEO to cover the Drogheda and East Meath region. You will be aware that when the LEO network was instituted under the County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Act, 2014, a LEO was established on the basis of the functional area of the 31 County and City Councils in Ireland. This model, in operation for over 5 years, has been the platform for ongoing and incremental success in terms of client engagement and strong local jobs growth.
There are a wide range of Brexit supports available to further strengthen the capacity of our microenterprise sector such as:
- The Brexit Mentor Programme was developed for businesses to work with an experienced mentor on a one-to-one basis to identify key areas of exposure within their business and to maximise potential opportunities arising from Brexit.
- Prepare Your Business for Customs is a one-day interactive workshop, run regionally by Local Enterprise Offices, which provides all businesses with a better understanding of the potential impacts, formalities and procedures to be adopted when trading with a country which is outside the Single Market and Customs Union.
- LEAN for Micro is a targeted programme for Local Enterprise Office clients to help small businesses boost competitiveness, increase performance and profitability as well as building resilience within their companies.
- Technical Assistance for Micro-Exporters (TAME) Grant supports clients to explore and develop new export market opportunities, such as participation in international trade fairs and development of export related marketing and websites. With a focus on helping companies to diversify, this scheme is a match-funding opportunity with up to €2,500 available.
- Research and Development Tax credit aimed at small and micro firms, who will be able to claim a higher rate of credit of 30% and will have improved options with regards to claiming the payable credit. These firms will also be able to claim the credit for expenditure incurred in advance of commencing to trade.
Finally, in addition, as part of the €28 million Border Enterprise Development Fund which I announced on the 3rd January last, I have provided an additional €3 million for the six Local Enterprise Offices in the border Counties of Louth, Monaghan, Cavan, Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim for capability development programmes for micro and small firms with ambition. This will enable them to pilot a series of mentoring programmes for businesses focused on boosting exports, embracing innovation and improving management and financial skills capability.
