Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 April 2022
38. Deputy John Lahart asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the funding that is being provided in 2022 to support enterprises in the south Dublin local enterprise office area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18480/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn Budget 2022, this Department allocated €31.8m to fund the Local Enterprise Offices, which represents a 5% increase in funding from 2021. The additional funding provided will allow each of the 31 Local Enterprise Offices to enhance the role they play in supporting local and regional development.
The Local Enterprise Office, South Dublin, has been allocated €907,798 for 2022 to ensure that businesses are well served in terms of grant aid and financial assistance in addition to serving the training, mentoring, management and capability development requirements of entrepreneurs and managers in the enterprises.
€449k has been set aside to service direct financial assistance to businesses including Feasibility Grants, Priming Grants and Business Expansion Grants. €25k of this is ringfenced for the Technical Assistance for Micro Exporters Grant, which will support the ambition set out in the EI Strategy to increase the number of new exporters from our micro-enterprise sector over the course of the coming 4 years.
€459k has been allocated to the broad suite of management development and training programmes that assist business owners in acquiring additional skills to help them succeed in their business. €50,000 of funding has been set aside to deliver the Green4Micro programme in line with the Government commitment to prepare businesses for a greener, more carbon efficient economy. A further €30,000 has been allocated to the Lean4Micro programme which aims to help businesses increase efficiencies and reduce costs.
The Local Enterprise Office budget has grown year on year to meet the needs presented by the businesses and clients who have availed of the services offered. This is borne out by the growth in jobs supported by the Local Enterprise Offices, who have just completed an 8th year of consecutive growth. LEO South Dublin client enterprises supported 1,345 gross jobs in 2021 across 260 client companies with a net increase of 37 jobs for the year. I am satisfied that LEO South Dublin will continue its progress in meeting the requirements of the many businesses who avail of LEO services and that the 2022 budget will be instrumental in the creation of further employment and the advancement of enterprise development in the South Dublin area.
