Local Enterprise Offices to replace CEBs

The plan outlines that ‘One Stop Shops’ for micro enterprises would be set up in Local Authorities as a replacement for local City and County Enterprise Boards (CEBs).

These One Stop Shops will be called Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) and will build on the work done by the CEBs to date.

CEBs are being abolished and a new Micro Enterprise and Small Business Unit has been created in Enterprise Ireland (EI) to work with Local Authorities on the micro enterprise support structure.

This restructuring of EI is part of a wider restructuring that will also see the establishment of a Potential Exporters Division within EI, and more collaborative work with IDA Ireland.

Essentially, LEOs will carry out the combined work of the CEBs and the Business Support Units of the Local Authorities. 

Progression pathways for high-growth and high-potential companies to access appropriate Enterprise Ireland supports will be put in place, and EI will formalise Service Level Agreements with the Local Authority system. 

Enterprise Ireland will remain responsible for overall microenterprise policy, support instruments and financial resources (programme funding).  It is further envisaged that EI will allocate an annual budget to each Local Authority and agree a Service Level Agreement on foot of that budget.

“The Dublin City Enterprise Board will continue to deliver its usual range of services until further notice. Clients and suppliers of services will be kept informed when the detail is worked out and the new structures are in place,” the Dublin CEB statement said.