Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank the Deputies for their contributions as regards the announcement this morning.

Regarding the scheme and Deputy McGrath's point, the scheme was not perfect. There is an acknowledgement that it was reflective of the 2023 rates. Many businesses had to engage with local authorities about up-to-date rates and a rates repayment plan to bring them up to speed. We want to enhance potential further schemes down the road and ensure that the learnings from this process are implemented in them. However, we know the importance of the cash injection that many businesses received to deal with labour costs and energy costs over the past 12 months, which have been significant for their viability.

On the process, the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, and I are determined to ensure that we have an accelerated and ambitious programme in terms of trying to get this done. The local authorities will engage with many businesses that were ineligible for ICOB 2. More than 75,000 businesses were in receipt of the first payment. They need to be engaged with to see who did not qualify and what sectors specifically did not qualify for ICOB 2. We want this to come to a conclusion and to ensure that these learnings are implemented in any future schemes.

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