COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, February 11, 2019
QUESTION NO. 15
QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor
To ask the Chief Executive to update the Council of his plans to deal with the challenges of Brexit noting the widespread concerns in respect of the matter and in reporting will he detail what assistance is available to local businesses in our County to deal with the matter and will he make a statement.
REPLY:
The South Dublin Local Enterprise Office (LEO) offers significant supports and assistance to companies preparing for the challenges of Brexit.
A LEO National Seminar on Brexit was held on 25th January and presenters provided updates on key challenges coming from businesses around the country and provided an update on supports available.
We continue to host seminars, workshops information days in conjunction with the other 3 Dublin LEO's for the region. The next Regional event will take place in February and will focus on – ‘Customs Clearance.
Prepare for Brexit website now has a new Helpline https://www.prepareforbrexit.com/ and webinars are being organised for individual business sectors on supports and assistance.
A Brexit Workshop is planned locally for South Dublin for March and a presentation ‘How to Brexit Proof Your Business’ is included in our Local Enterprise Week programme (4-8th March next).
Brexit SME Scorecard (https://prepareforbrexit.virtual-adviser.com/ ) is an essential first step for businesses to take and we continue to encourage clients to use it.
The LEO offers supports to businesses within the county including; Technical Assistance to Micro Enterprise (TAME), Trading Online Vouchers (TOV's) and Lean for Micro and LEO businesses.
Enterprise Ireland has just launched a national programme of half-day Masterclasses on ‘Essentials of Exporting’ for LEO businesses which will run from 7th February starting in Cork to support businesses who are interested in growing their export business.
Additionally the LEO offers specific Brexit preparations for businesses such as the Brexit Mentor programme.
The full range of Brexit related supports can be found at the following website link; https://www.localenterprise.ie/Discover-Business-Supports/Brexit-Information/
A Summary of all of the supports for all agencies and departments can be found at the following website link; https://www.dfa.ie/brexit/getting-ireland-brexit-ready/brexit-and-business/financial-supports-for-business/