Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 , 19 and 20 together.

In total, the increased cost of business and power up grant schemes paid out a very significant sum, totalling more than €400 million, to support SMEs throughout the country. This total of €400 million included €154 million in the first phase of ICOB, €90 million in the second phase of ICOB and €158 million through the power up scheme. The take-up rate for ICOB was very significant, with 68% of eligible businesses registering for the grant. To get payments to businesses before the end of 2024, the power up grant was aligned with the increased cost of business scheme. A business must have received the second ICOB grant and be in the hospitality, retail and beauty sectors to receive the power up grant.

The Deputies asked about three specific areas: Cork, Tipperary and Dublin city. In Cork, the first ICOB payment Cork City Council paid out was €9.2 million to 3,602 businesses. Cork County Council paid out €9.8 million under the first phase of the scheme to 5,533 businesses. On the power up grant, Cork City Council approved 1,773 businesses to the value of €7 million and Cork County Council approved 2,804 applications to the value of €11.2 million under the scheme. In Tipperary, 1,847 businesses registered for the power up grant and 1,803 businesses were approved for the second value of €7.2 million. In Dublin 2, 4 and 6, which fall under the remit of Dublin City Council, 3,845 businesses received power up grants to a total value of €15.4 million.

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