Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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396.To ask the Minister for Finance if he will give further consideration to the issues raised by the hospitality sector in relation to increased costs, loss of business and jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33162/24]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has provided significant support to business throughout the period of increasing costs and Budget 2024 contained a number of measures which will support businesses facing increased costs, including the Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) grant, which aimed to provide financial support to small and medium sized businesses who operate from a rateable premises, at a cost of €257 million.

Broader supports for SMEs which were announced in Budget 2024 include the extension of the 9% VAT rate on gas and electricity from End-October 2023 to End-October 2024.

In addition, the Deputy may have noted the wide range of measures brought forward by my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, announced on 15 May. Details of these measures can be found at the following link:

enterprise.gov.ie/en/news-and-events/department-news/2024/may/202405151

With regard to future tax measures to support this sector, as the Deputy will be aware, it is a longstanding practice of the Minister for Finance not to comment, in advance of the Budget, on any tax matters that might be the subject of Budget decisions.