Changes are no cause for worry says KCEB boss
MANAGEMENT at the Kerry County Enterprise Board have moved to reassure its clients and the broader business community following news that the government is planning to scrap the county enterprise board and replace it with a new Local Enterprise Office system.
Last week, as part of the government's 2012 Action Plan for Jobs launch, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton announced plans to replace the network of County and City Enterprise Boards with a new network of Local Enterprise Offices.
The plan, which will be overseen by Enterprise Ireland, would see the dissolution of the KCEB and the creation of a Kerry Local Enterprise Office that would work in conjunction with Kerry's local authorities.
Following the announcement, the KCEB has taken steps to reassure all its existing clients that pending the creation of the new office it will continue to deliver its full range of enterprise support services.
KCEB CEO Tomás Hayes said that while he sees the need for change the KCEB will work to ensure there is no disruption of service, which the board said "could have a catastrophic impact".
"We have to be realistic, business needs have changed and enterprise support structures need to change also," said Mr Hayes.
Tomas Hayes added that the new Local Enterprise Offices will hopefully address deficiencies in the existing Enterprise Board System.
"The Enterprise Board have been limited in its activities over the years by virtue of its own constitution prohibiting loan guarantees and support for business employing greater than 10 people," he said.
"The Boards have consistently highlighted such deficiencies to our lead Department. It is anticipated that the roll out of the Local Enterprise Offices will address these shortcomings. Any measures undertaken have to reflect an innovative and flexible approach to the way we do our business," said Mr Hayes.
"Many of the measures proposed in the 2012 Action Plan for Jobs are not new and the County Enterprise Boards have been calling for these to be implemented over a sustained period. These include the development of the "one stop shops" or "local enterprise offices", the avoidance of duplication of enterprise supports particularly at a local level, the roll out of a micro enterprise fund and the extension of benefit cover to the self employed," said Mr Hayes.
"I also believe that a county like Kerry has significant natural resources and the development of a county loan guarantee fund or a county development fund should be a priority which would assist small business credit. The use of a guarantee fund would drive a tactical enterprise agenda. We need to be smart based on the limited resources we have at our disposal."
