Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

238. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total number of companies or organisations to date that have availed of the Enterprise Ireland cyber security review grant; the total expenditure; and if he will make a statement more generally on cyber security for SMEs. [4121/25]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Enterprise Ireland launched the Cyber Security Review grant in September 2024 to assist SMEs to take steps to review and update their online security measures to mitigate against the risk of cyber-attacks.

The Cyber Security Review grant is offered to eligible companies by Enterprise Ireland, in collaboration with the National Cyber Security Centre. The scheme is underpinned by funds that have been allocated to my Department by the European Union for the Digital Transition Fund as part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

As of 5 February 2025, €412,800 in funding has been approved to 172 companies under the Cyber Security Review grant. Of these, a total of €21,442 has been paid out to 9 companies under the scheme.

While digital transformation can bring about numerous opportunities and benefits, it can also present new and complex cyber security challenges for businesses. Risks such as data breaches, intellectual property theft, ransomware attacks, and insider threats are some of the prominent cyber security risks enterprises face.

The implementation of cyber security measures that address both technical and human factors are essential for mitigating these risks and should be an integral component of every business’ digital transformation journey.

The Cyber Security Review grant enables companies to engage with cyber security experts who can conduct a comprehensive review of their cyber security status, identify vulnerabilities, and develop a tailored roadmap for businesses to enhance their security measures at all levels of their operations.

By integrating cyber security as a core component of their digital initiatives, SMEs will be more confident to advance with their wider digital transformation plans and will build trust with customers, partners, and regulators which will underpin successful outcomes from their digital initiatives.