Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 May 2022
192. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has considered the provision of funding for chambers across Ireland to hire administrative staff to help local businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25531/22]
View answerMy Department has set out in its statement of strategy its intention to make Ireland the best place to succeed in business across all regions of our country, with vibrant enterprises, more high-quality employment, growing trade, fair workplaces, and higher productivity.
We are supporting our local business communities through the ongoing work of our enterprise agencies, the IDA, Enterprise Ireland, and the Local Enterprise Offices, to develop policies to create jobs, increase productivity, encourage strong management and leadership, and drive transformation in employment intensive and locally traded sectors, with a focus on climate, digitalisation and skills.
There are over 210,000 people in Ireland working directly in IDA Ireland client companies. Around these companies more enterprises and more jobs are created. Supported by the increased economic activity, Ireland’s indigenous entrepreneurs see and seize the opportunity to create new businesses and provide new employment opportunities.
Enterprise Ireland works in partnership with Irish enterprises to help them start, grow, innovate and win export sales on global markets, in this way supporting sustainable economic growth, regional development and secure employment. Enterprise Ireland provides hands-on support to companies, promotes awareness of the benefits of innovation and provides important funding support in the form of both grants and equity and promotes awareness of incentives such as tax credits.
Located within each of the 31 Local Authorities and funded by my Department, the Local Enterprise Offices provide a ‘first stop shop’ for all available Government business supports and can provide information/referrals to other relevant bodies under agreed protocols e.g. Revenue, Micro Finance Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, LEADER, and Enterprise Ireland. Any local business looking for assistance should contact their LEO.
The LEOs offer direct grant aid to microenterprises (10 employees or fewer) in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors which, over time, have the potential to develop into strong export entities. They also provide an extensive range of management training and development programmes, which are available to anyone looking to start, grow or pivot their own business.
In partnership with their colleagues within the Local Authorities the Local Enterprise Offices are actively engaged in the economic development of their communities and many were directly involved in applying to Enterprise Ireland for funding for projects under the Regional Enterprise Development Fund and the Border Enterprise Development Fund.
