Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

74. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the general supports available for small businesses currently struggling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22991/24]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This Government has adopted an active approach in supporting the Irish SME sector across multiple crises over the last number of years. Over the two-year period prior to Budget 2024 a total of €12 billion was provided in cost of living and doing business supports, comprising a mix of permanent and one-off measures (most significantly the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme). Budget 2024 also contained several measures which will support businesses facing increased costs.

• €257m in support announced through the Increased Cost of Business grant
• the 9% VAT reduction for gas and electricity was extended for an additional 12 months, until the 31st of October 2024;
• the temporary excise rate reductions applying to auto diesel, petrol and marked gas oil were extended until the 31st of March 2024; and,
• an increase in VAT registration thresholds for SMEs to €40,000 for services and €80,000 for goods.

• Ensuring that the employer PRSI threshold is explicitly considered as part of the Low Pay Commission deliberations and is reviewed on each occasion that the minimum wage is increased.
• Increasing the employer PRSI threshold from €441 to €496 with effect from 1 October 2024
• Reopening the Increased Cost of Business Scheme for another 14 days and launching a second phase of the Scheme targeted at businesses in the retail and hospitality sectors
• Doubling the Innovation Grant Scheme from €5,000 to €10,000
• Increasing the maximum amount available under the Energy Efficiency Grant Scheme to €10,000 and reducing the business contribution rate from 50% to 25%
• Widening the eligibility for the Trading Online Voucher and doubling the grant to €5,000
• Increasing the lending limit for Microfinance Ireland loans to €50,000 from €25,000
• Widening the eligibility for the Digital for Business Consultancy Scheme
• Launching a new ‘Ireland’s Best Entrepreneur Programme’ to encourage entrepreneurship
• Launching the new online National Enterprise Hub for SMEs to access information on the wide range of Government business supports
• Implementing an enhanced ‘SME Test’ by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in conjunction with the Department of An Taoiseach
• Reviewing forthcoming ESRI research on the impact of Statutory Sick Leave before deciding on any further increases
• Reviewing the proposed Roadmap for Increasing Minimum Annual Remuneration Thresholds for Employment Permits.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

75. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how the recent package of supports for business will impact on business owners; to provide up-to-date county breakdowns of take-up of the ICOB scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23279/24]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This Government has adopted an active approach in supporting the Irish SME sector across multiple crises over the last number of years.

I recognise costs are impacting firms, and this motivated the recent introduction of a range of additional measures aimed at reducing costs for small and medium sized businesses. Some of which include:

• Ensuring that the employer PRSI threshold is explicitly considered as part of the Low Pay Commission deliberations and is reviewed on each occasion that the minimum wage is increased.
• Increasing the employer PRSI threshold from €441 to €496 with effect from 1 October 2024
• Reopening the Increased Cost of Business Scheme for another 14 days and increasing the grant aid available for businesses operating in the retail and hospitality sectors
• Doubling the Innovation Grant Scheme from €5,000 to €10,000
• Increasing the maximum amount available under the Energy Efficiency Grant Scheme to €10,000 and reducing the business contribution rate from 50% to 25%
• Widening the eligibility for the Trading Online Voucher and doubling the grant to €5,000
• Increasing the lending limit for Microfinance Ireland loans to €50,000 from €25,000
• Widening the eligibility for the Digital for Business Consultancy Scheme
• Launching a new ‘Ireland’s Best Entrepreneur Programme’ to encourage entrepreneurship
• Launching the new online National Enterprise Hub for SMEs to access information on the wide range of Government business supports