Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise an issue around small businesses. I think one thing on which we all agree across this Chamber is the importance of small business to our economic life. I have a shocking tale of a company called FitzMac, which supplies modular buildings for schools. It has done some fantastic work across the country, including on St. Vincent's special school, Lisnagry; St. Brendan's girls' national school, the Glen, Cork; St. John's Senior National School, Kilkenny; and Emo National School, to name just a few. It has a manufacturing facility in Newcastle West, County Limerick, and right now it is about to go out of business. The reason is that the Department of Education owes it over €700,000. I have spoken to the manager and he is completely exasperated because there is a blame game between the schools and the Department, but all the work has been completed and certified. He had to lay off five employees last week and expects to close down the business in two weeks. This is a manufacturing facility providing essential services to our schools. We all know the pressure our schools are under. What I cannot get my head around is how incredibly unhelpful the Department of Education has been in not being proactive to ensure these debts are paid. This is a small business. It cannot afford €700,000-odd in debt. It broke my heart when I spoke to the manager of FitzMac because he set up his business in 2021 and is passionate about building the business and about the quality of work it delivers, and the quality of work has been certified, yet it is the State, the Department of Education in particular, that is failing him.

Is there anything the Deputy Leader can do? She has been helpful in the past in this regard. We all support small businesses in this Chamber. This one is about to go out of business. I have had a parliamentary question submitted by my colleague, Deputy Maurice Quinlivan, in the Dáil. We are waiting for a response to that. My fear is that if urgent action is not taken, we will have more job losses and a good business will close down. If there is anything we can do here, I think everyone would appreciate it.