Departmental Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2023

Tuesday, 31 January 2023

Questions (154)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

154. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will specify the breakdown of the capital and current budget allocations of €4 million for local enterprise offices for the roll out of the plus-ten employees' framework and small firms' investment in energy efficiency scheme in the budget 2023 expenditure report, in tabular form. [4475/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Neale Richmond)

The Budget 2023 allocation to the Local Enterprise Office network includes an additional €4 million in capital expenditure to pilot both the extension of the LEOs mandate to firms with over 10 employees and the introduction of the Small Firms' Investment in Energy Efficiency Scheme (SFIEES).  This additional allocation is broken down evenly across both supports with each measure receiving €2 million in 2023.

The pilot extension of the Local Enterprise Offices' mandate is intended to provide grant aid to firms with more than ten employees in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors thereby fulfilling a programme for Government commitment.  In so doing, it builds on the new Enterprise Ireland strategy which sets out a commitment to ensure companies of all sizes in those sectors will have access to assistance as appropriate to their stage of development and internationalisation ambition.

The Small Firms Investment in Energy Efficiency Scheme (SFIEES), also announced in Budget 2023, is intended to support capital investment by firms to undertake energy efficiency projects. The rationale of the scheme will be to support companies to reduce their carbon emissions and overall energy costs by accelerating the adoption of low carbon technologies or processes.

Taking into account national policy and in consultation with the LEO network, Enterprise Ireland is developing guidelines and eligibility criteria for the rollout of the new programme by each of the 31 Local Enterprise Offices. A budget of €2m has been allocated nationally and it is planned to launch the scheme in Q1 2023.