Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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455. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if it is intended to review the qualifying criteria for the power up grant and consider allowing some unsuccessful applicants to be reconsidered under new criteria (details supplied). [1792/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The criteria for the Power Up Grant were aligned with the Increased Cost of Business Scheme in order to get payments to businesses as quickly as possible by the end of 2024. Businesses that are tenants and received the second payment under the Increased Cost of Business Scheme could register as long as they are ratepayers.

It has been brought to my attention that some businesses have entered into arrangements with their landlords whereby the landlord pays the rates for their tenants. The legal position under section 4 of the Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019 as well as the amendments introduced through the Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 is that tenants whose rent incorporates their rates obligation, which is remitted by the landlord, cannot be deemed to be ratepayers.

The Deputy will appreciate that it would be inappropriate and possibly counterproductive for me to attempt to interfere with existing commercial arrangements between small businesses and their landlords in the context of any business grant scheme.