Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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121. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures he is taking to help small-scale manufacturing, retail and hospitality businesses meet the challenge of cost pressures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23087/24]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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This Government has adopted an active approach in supporting small-scale manufacturing, retail and hospitality firms 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.