Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 8 November 2023
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
Skills and Supports Required for Businesses to Meet Decarbonisation Targets: Discussion
Mr. Declan Meally:
In relation to the Deputy's previous question on small businesses, last year energy might have been number eight or nine on their list of priorities, but the energy crisis jumped up to number two or three. It really drove them through it. We saw two issues. First, we had the voucher scheme, which they just applied for, and then the auditor looked after the administration. Therefore, they did not have any administration to do, which helped to point them in the right direction. Also, by working through networks such as Fáilte Ireland and the Irish Hotels Federation, we are getting the messages out there. That is how we are approaching our work with SMEs.