COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 10, 2017

QUESTION NO. 12

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

To ask the Chief Executive to confirm actions proposed to encourage businesses to engage with LEO (Local Enterprise Office) regarding the challenges of Brexit and will he outline his plans to deal with such contacts.

REPLY:

Since the UK referendum vote to leave the European Union in June 2016, Local Enterprise Office (LEO) South Dublin has engaged with various agencies including Enterprise Ireland, Intertrade Ireland to build a portfolio of supports to help Irish businesses to cope with the possible impacts of Brexit.  Notwithstanding this, it is acknowledged that there is a great deal of uncertainty about what Brexit will be and what that will mean to Irish businesses.

Local Enterprise Office South Dublin is the “first-stop-shop” for micro and small businesses and this includes developing a Brexit Information Section on our website highlighting Brexit events, information and supports.  At this early stage it is important for local businesses to assess their preparedness for Brexit using our Brexit SME Scorecard.  In addition, LEO South Dublin partnered with South Dublin Chamber on a very well attended Brexit awareness event in the Red Cow earlier this month as part of our Brexit awareness campaign and we will provide further information events for local businesses with key strategic partners as Brexit evolves.

Promotional campaigns will continue for competitiveness, innovation and export support programmes including our Lean Business Programme;  the LEO Innovation Investment Fund, the Technical Assistance for Micro-Exporters Grant, the Trading Online Voucher Scheme, and other LEO Financial Supports.  All of these programmes variously will help local businesses in South Dublin to be better placed to deal with the emerging Brexit issues.  LEO South Dublin are also represented on the national LEO Brexit Committee that will continue to explore what further supports are required in conjunction with other state agencies as Brexit develops.