Clare LEO Backed Firms Among Top In Ireland

Photo © Clare County Council

Companies supported by Clare’s Local Enterprise Office have recorded some of the highest increases in jobs in the country.

New figures from the Department of Jobs show there was a net increase of 173 full and part time positions created by LEO supported companies in the county last year, a rise of 62 jobs on the previous year.

Only Dublin City, Donegal and Kilkenny recorded larger increases than Clare, with a total net amount of 3679 jobs created across the country.

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Head of Enterprise with the LEO in Clare, Padraic McElwee expects the number here to continue to rise.

The figure is the fourth highest of the country’s 31-strong Local Enterprise Office network, according to the results of the latest LEO annual jobs survey published by Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor, T.D. and Pat Breen, T.D., Minister for Employment and Small Business.

The results, compiled by Enterprise Ireland, show the total number of people employed in small businesses supported by Local Enterprise Office Clare stood at 1,110 (full-time and part-time) at the end of 2016.

Councillor Bill Chambers, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council says “The strong jobs performance by Local Enterprise Office Clare clients during 2016 is extremely welcome and testament to the strong entrepreneurial activity ongoing throughout the county.

The figures also underline the considerable role now played by Local Enterprise Office Clare in providing financial, information and training supports to entrepreneurs and micro enterprises”.

While, Pat Dowling, Chief Executive of Clare County Council has added that “Since 2014, Local Enterprise Office Clare has provided a service that has not previously been provided from one central point”.

“The pooling of expertise and resources at Clare County Council’s headquarters facility in Áras Contae an Chláir has clearly streamlined the supports structure for enterprise development at local level delivered through the Local Enterprise Office”.

“Local businesses creating local jobs is a key component in ensuring sustainable communities in our towns and villages”.

“This year’s growth in net jobs is an endorsement of the key role the Local Enterprise Office plays in the broader economic and rural development remit of Clare County Council” said Mr. Dowling.

Further details about the supports available to start-ups and small businesses are available here.