Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
8. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of local enterprise offices in Ireland; the number of staff who work in each office; the number of staff who work in the LEO section of his Department, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42452/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the dissolution of the County Enterprise Boards in 2014 the 31 Local Enterprise Offices were established as business units under the local authority structure. The Local Enterprise Offices were created to promote entrepreneurship and to act as a “first-stop-shop” for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and Business and Management development programmes such as training and mentoring to those wishing to start or grow their own business.
As of the 30th June 2022, the 31 LEOs employed a total of 220 staff. The most recent full year Impact Report for 2021 for the LEOs showed that they supported 7,158 businesses and 35,729 jobs. Over that period 7,440 new jobs were created with a net jobs increase of 2,999. 2021 marked the 8th year of continuous employment growth for the LEOs and I am satisfied that the network will continue to be responsive to the needs of business and entrepreneurs in the months ahead and to build on the impressive performance to date.
In the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment there are five staff assigned to the LEO Liaison Unit which reports to a Principal Officer who also has responsibility for SME and Entrepreneurship Policy.
|
LEO Name |
Number of staff on the 30th June 2022 |
|
Carlow |
5 |
|
Cavan |
5 |
|
Clare |
6 |
|
Cork City |
8 |
|
Cork North/West |
9 |
|
Cork South |
6 |
|
Donegal |
5 |
|
Dublin City |
14 |
|
Dublin South |
10 |
|
Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown |
8 |
|
Fingal |
10 |
|
Galway |
9 |
|
Kerry |
7 |
|
Kildare |
7 |
|
Kilkenny |
6 |
|
Laois |
5 |
|
Leitrim |
6 |
|
Limerick |
10 |
|
Longford |
6 |
|
Louth |
7 |
|
Mayo |
7 |
|
Meath |
8 |
|
Monaghan |
6 |
|
Offaly |
4 |
|
Roscommon |
6 |
|
Sligo |
5 |
|
Tipperary |
9 |
|
Waterford |
9 |
|
Westmeath |
7 |
|
Wexford |
5 |
|
Wicklow |
5 |
|
Total |
220 |
