The Local Enterprise Office Galway will not release any information received except as may be required by law, including the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003.
Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) opened their doors for business on the 15th April 2014. As the LEOs are a business unit of their parent local authority all requests for information under Freedom of Information (FOI) or Access to Information on the Environment legislation should be made directly to the FOI Officer of Galway County Council via foi@galwaycoco.ie rather than direct to the LEO.
Model Publication Scheme March 2016
Galway LEO was established on the 15th April 2014 following the dissolution of the County Enterprise Boards.
The LEO is operated by the Local Authority under a Service Level Agreement with Enterprise Ireland. Funding is provided by DJEI through the Centre of Excellence in Enterprise Ireland.
The role of the Galway LEO is to provide supports and services (including direct financial assistance) that encourage entrepreneurship in Galway, supporting individuals that wish to start a business, and businesses that wish to grow, with the aim of creating sustainable employment. The main target market for the LEO is the micro-enterprise sector.
Classes of records include notes, client files, minutes of meetings, annual reports etc.
Governance: Independent & voluntary Evaluation & Approvals Committee makes grant award decisions. Otherwise management is in-house. Head of Enterprise reports to CE of Galway County Council.
Corporate Plans & Strategies/Annual Report
On an annual basis the Galway LEO prepares a Local Enterprise Development Plan for the year ahead in line with Enterprise Ireland SLA requirements.
Pay Grading Structures:
Pay and grading are in line with Local Authority Grades.
The current staff compliment of the LEO is:
Head of Enterprise
Clerical Officers
Enterprise Ireland Graduate
Contact details: Galway County Council, Prospect Hill, Galway. 091 509090. www.localenterprise.ie/galway enquiry@leo.galwaycoco.ie
Link to Contact Us section of website: www.localenterprise.ie/galway/Contact/
Signed Protocols are in place between the LEOs and the following agencies/ departments :
- Dept Social Protection (INTREO)
- National Association of Community Enterprise Centres (NACEC)
- The Credit Review Office
- Failte Ireland
- Education & Training Boards Ireland (ETBI)
- Microfinance Ireland
- The Revenue Commissioners
- Skillsnet
- Failte Ireland
- Bord Bia
- Design & Crafts Council of Ireland DCCOI
Customer Charter:
The customer charter for Galway LEO is published on the website:
https://www.localenterprise.ie/Galway/Legal/Customer-Charter/
Direct Financial Intervention (Grants)
The LEO offers 3 types of grants: Feasibility Grants, Priming Grants and Business Expansion Grants.
Grants are available to eligible businesses i.e. businesses based in County Galway with less than ten employees at time of application, involved in manufacturing or internationally traded services, that are unique, export and growth oriented and that display employment creation potential. Businesses may be established or in the start up stage with employment less than 10 people.
Applications are considered by the independent & voluntary eight person Evaluation & Approvals Committee as required by client demand.
General application information is available on https://www.localenterprise.ie/galway/Financial-Supports/
Eligible clients access an Application Form following a meeting with staff or a nominated LEO representative.
A mechanism to appeal decisions is in place and can be made to the Evaluation & Approvals Committee in line with guidance in the SLA.
Trading Online Voucher Scheme
Grants of up to €2,500 may be awarded to eligible businesses to develop their online trading presence. These grants are funded by the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources. Eligible clients access an application form following a meeting with staff or a nominated LEO representative.
Capability Building
The LEO provides a wide range of capability building measures including:
Encouraging Entrepreneurship e.g. the Student Enterprise Programme, linkages with NUI Galway and GMIT. Support for & attendance at relevant events in 3rd level colleges such as Science & Technology fair, Food/Craft events, Enterprise Awards events.
Business Development Programmes
- Lean Launch Programme
- Food Academy Programme
- Developing Craft & Design Enterprise Galway
Management Development supports
- Start Your Own Business Training
Access to Networks- local & international.
Short Business Courses one day & half day workshops on topics that address client needs.
First Stop Shop – referrals and signposting to supports and services for business provided by other organisations- clinics are held as least weekly.
Business Advice & Mentoring- provided on an ongoing basis as per client demand.
All of these services are described on the website.
Some of these services can be booked online, others by contacting the office.
Most services incur a small fee.
Decision Making process for major policy proposals:
The LEOs operate under Policy issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Innovation communicated to the LEOs through the Centre of Excellence in Enterprise Ireland.
Of particular relevance are the following:
Government Action Plan for Jobs 2016
Regional Action Plan for Jobs 2016-2018 (Western Region)
Financial Information
There are no plans for major capital expenditure.
LEOs do not have a Board to remunerate. The Evaluation & Approvals Committee operate on an entirely voluntary basis.
LEOs do not engage in any form of sponsorship or advertising
Procurement
Procurement is in line with national policy guidelines and best practice.
FOI Disclosure log and other information to be published routinely
Reports such as enterprise development plan are published on the website as practicable.
Non FOI exempt information that is sought regularly is available on www.localenterprise.ie/galway
The dedicated FOI page of our website provides FOI information to the public:
https://www.localenterprise.ie/Galway/FOI%20-%20Freedom%20of%20Information/
Since the establishment of the LEO on 15/4/14 the organisation has not yet received a formal, full FOI request for processing.
© 2024 LEO