Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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47. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the efforts his Department has made to ensure that small businesses, including shops, bars, cafés and restaurants, are supported during this period of increased operational costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29954/24]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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As part of re-opening the Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) scheme and given the greater impact that increased costs are having on the hospitality and retail sector, as noted in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Department of Social Protection joint working paper titled ‘An Assessment of the Cumulative Impact of Proposed Measures to Improve Working Conditions in Ireland’, it was agreed that business operating in these sectors will receive a second payment for approved businesses.

As you are aware, Local Authorities are administering the ICOB scheme on behalf of my Department and the priority is to get payments to businesses as soon as possible. In total, as of 9 July, there have been 72,576 registrations representing 81,366 businesses. With a total of €141m already having been paid out to over 62,000 businesses. This amounts to €129m to businesses as a first payment, and €11.9m to businesses in the hospitality and retail sectors in second payments.

A further range of measures are also being brought forward to assist businesses. These measures include:

• Increasing the maximum amount available under the Energy Efficiency Grant Scheme to €10,000 and reducing the business contribution rate from 50% to 25%.
• Changes are currently being incorporated to widening the eligibility for the Trading Online Voucher, extending it to all sectors, including retail and hospitality, up to 50 employees, modernise eligible expenditure and doubling the grant to €5,000.
• Increasing the lending limit for Microfinance Ireland loans to €50,000 from €25,000.
• Changes are currently being made to widen the eligibility for the Digital for Business Consultancy Scheme and extending it to all sectors, including retail and hospitality, with up to 50 employees.
• A new online National Enterprise Hub for SMEs to access information on the wide range of Government business supports. I launched the Hub yesterday, along with Minister Burke. It can be accessed at and signposts to over 180 different Government service or supports ranging from EI and LEOs to the SEAI and Board Bia.
• Implementing an enhanced ‘SME Test’ by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in conjunction with the Department of the Taoiseach. My Department will shortly issue new guidelines on the SME Test and will work with other Departments to ensure the SME Test is an integral part of policy making.
• The removal of the €125 fee for tables and chairs for the purpose of outdoor dining by S.I 196 of 2024 - Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2024, which has been signed by Minister O’Brien.