Written answers

Wednesday, 1 December 2010

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation

National Recovery Plan

7:00 pm

Photo of Lucinda CreightonLucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Enterprise; Trade and Innovation the way he plans to cut costs for small and medium enterprises under the four year plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45641/10]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The National Recovery Plan provides a blueprint for a return to sustainable economic growth and includes actions which the Government will take to reduce costs for business across the economy, including the SME sector. The Plan sets out specific measures which will be taken to cut costs in relation to labour, energy, property rental, professional fees and other areas.

To facilitate cash-flow for businesses, the Government will extend the existing 15-day payment rule which applies to Government Departments to the wider public sector. Enterprise agencies will also work directly with SMEs to improve their performance, productivity and competitiveness.

The Annual Competitiveness Report 2010, published by the National Competitiveness Council in July this year, acknowledged that since January 2008, Ireland has regained some of the competitiveness it had lost at the start of the global economic downturn. The measures outlined above, along with other strategies outlined in the Recovery Plan, will build on the progress already made by the Government and will further improve cost competitiveness for all businesses, including SMEs, in the years ahead.

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