Dáil debates

Thursday, 10 July 2014

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions

Small and Medium Enterprises Supports

9:50 am

Photo of Dara CallearyDara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On the 2011 report, I ask the Minister of State to outline the issues that remain to be addressed. We could beat each other over and back on access to credit which is not yet available for many businesses which want to expand. Banks are in the habit of lending to safe businesses, but businesses with good plans to increase employment which might be risky are not finding a home. The Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation will be publishing a report on the issue next week and will make some suggestions in that regard.

The Minister of State also mentioned the issue of procurement, which remains a major source of frustration for small businesses, in particular. They are not given access to procurement. This is an area on which I ask the Minister of State to work in conjunction with the LEOs, now that they are linked with local authorities. The announcement made yesterday by the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government of funding to renovate local authority housing stock is an example of where small companies and trades people can make a difference and create employment. However, many of them will be restricted in tendering because of the current position on procurement. I ask the Minister of State to update us on the issue.

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