James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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181. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the work his Department is doing to ensure that those businesses which have not availed of the Power Up grant because of administrative difficulties will be able to do so; when these issues will be resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5454/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Following an extension to the original deadline, the Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) scheme closed on 29th May 2024. The Power Up grant closed on 22nd November 2024 also following an extension to the original deadline. In order to get payments to businesses as quickly as possible by the end of 2024, the Power Up grant was aligned with the ICOB scheme. In total, over €400 million was paid out to small businesses under these schemes in 2024.

In relation to Power Up, my Department is aware of issues that have arisen during the registration period, in particular, in relation to businesses that were ineligible for the grant due to incorrect classification of their business type while registering for ICOB. The Department is currently reviewing the issues that have arisen and will consider next steps in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and the local authorities.”