The Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Minister for Jobs and Minister for the Environment officially launched the nationwide system of Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) yesterday.
The network of 31 LEOs are replacing the old County Enterprise Boards (CEBs) which were independent state agencies. The LEOs in comparison will be run out of local authorities.
For people thinking of starting or expanding a business they will now be able to access the full range of State supports provided by different Government bodies – for example local authorities, Enterprise Ireland, Revenue, the Department of Social Protection, the Credit Review Office, training bodies – in one easily accessible location within the local authority.
All categories of business will have access to Government supports and advice as previously some businesses – for example, companies who were too large to access CEB supports, but were not exporting and therefore did not qualify for Enterprise Ireland supports – fell through the cracks between different agencies.