Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 April 2022
16. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports that are being provided in 2022 to local enterprise offices in counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18736/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Enterprise Offices in Cavan, Monaghan and Meath have been integral in the LEO mission to promote entrepreneurship, foster business start-ups and develop existing micro and small businesses to drive job creation and to provide accessible high quality supports for business ideas.
The Local Enterprise Offices act as a ‘First Stop Shop’ for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance, and a ‘signposting’ service for all government supports available to entrepreneurs and business owners.
The Local Enterprise Offices can offer direct grant aid to microenterprises in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors and who meet the eligibility criteria which, over time, have the potential to develop into strong export entities.
This financial assistance includes feasibility grants to develop new products or services; priming grants for start-ups; business expansion grants to help thriving businesses to grow; and technical assistance for micro exporters to help micro enterprises to explore potential overseas markets. Furthermore, the Local Enterprise Offices provide trading online vouchers to assist many businesses in developing their e-commerce capability.
The LEO network also offers an extensive range of high-quality training supports which are open to all business sectors and can assist entrepreneurs in developing the skills and knowledge to maximise their potential.
The LEO mentoring programme is designed to match up the knowledge, skills, insights and entrepreneurial capability of experienced business practitioners with small business owner/ managers who need practical and strategic one to one advice and guidance.
LEAN for Micro provides insights to make businesses more efficient, and Green for Micro, which addresses the issues of decarbonisation and greening of businesses, provide the business owners with expert consultation and advice on the measures to undertake to achieve their goals.
As many businesses face challenges because of the war in Ukraine, as well as the aftermath of Covid and Brexit and the disruption both have brought, the Local Enterprise Offices across these counties and the rest of the country, will continue to assist business owners and new entrepreneurs to develop and scale their business ideas into successful enterprises and develop their export potential.
