Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 83: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to the significant number of closures of retail outlets and consequent job losses in this sector; if his attention has been further drawn to the problems created for many retail outlets by high levels of rent and the refusal of landlords to reduce rates to take account of the current economic climate; the steps he will take to address this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19175/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the closures and significant job losses in the retail sector and my Department has taken such action as is open to it to alleviate the difficulties being experienced in the sector. The second call for the Employment Subsidy Scheme included the retail sector and I understand that subsidies were awarded to 178 retail companies. As a result of receiving 1,315 employment subsidies, these companies are committed to maintaining 12,891 jobs to 30 November 2010.

Regarding rent levels, my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has already banned "upward-only" rent reviews in new leases, which came into force on 28 February last.

In addition, Minister Ahern set up a new Working Group on Transparency in Commercial Rent Reviews earlier this year and my Department is represented on this Group. The Group brings all the relevant parties together to see how we can deal further with other aspects of concern in existing leases.

The Group is focusing in particular on the arbitration process and the adequacy of the information available to all parties in the context of commercial rent reviews. The Group has been asked to report to Minister Ahern by the end of June 2010.