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Posted by on Dec 13, 2016 in News | 0 comments

€1Mn Boost for LEOs

An additional €1Mn in funding has been made available to the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Network nationally for local enterprise development in 2016.

It has already been announced in Budget 2017, that the LEOs will receive an additional allocation of €4Mn in 2017. Since their establishment in April, 2014, the LEOs have supported over 7,500 new jobs in local communities around Ireland. The LEOs are at the helm of a number of national programmes rolled out at local level including Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) competition currently underway. IBYE, now in its third year, had a record 1,842 applications this year.

Kieran Comerford, Head of Enterprise, Carlow County Council, speaking on behalf of the national LEO Network welcomed the news:

“This significant increase in capital funding for 2017, together with the Action Plan for Jobs’ framework and the roll-out of local enterprise plans all mean additional resources for the local business sector. LEOs in local authorities will use these additional resources effectively to help address competitive issues for the sector by developing specific enterprise supports, such as programmes, funds and projects. Enterprise supports create opportunities, which in turn, create jobs in more local companies.” 

Joe MacGrath, CEO of Tipperary County Council and Chair of the County and City Management Association (CCMA), in welcoming the additional funding for LEOs added:

“The local government sector is playing a leading role in job creation and economic development at local and regional levels.  Local authorities are central in coordinating the delivery of the Regional Action Plans for Jobs and leading the implementation of the Local Economic and Community Plans. Local Enterprise Offices play an important role supporting businesses and job creation locally.”