Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister referenced the service level agreements. In his response can he indicate when that is sought to be finalised? He referenced that discussions were ongoing.

I welcome the acknowledgement from the Minister that the previous schemes - I assume he was referring to TBESS - were not taken up because of form-filling, bureaucracy and costs. I had heard the suggestion that small- and medium-sized enterprises were somehow part of some group scheme, etc., and did not need the money. It was money that they very much needed. I have already expressed my view on the return of €1.1 billion to the Exchequer. I think that money would and could have been drawn down had the processes been simpler or had more assistance been made available to people.

From the figures the Minister provided, €75 million from the sum of €257 million will go to larger premises. I assume the balance will go to the 135,000 other businesses. This will be what is left in the pot when the €75 million for the larger ratepayers is taken out. It will be split among the approximately 135,000 that are left.

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