Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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291. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason businesses that are not commercially rateable do not qualify for the increased cost of business grant and power up grants (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5923/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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In total, the Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) and Power Up grant schemes paid out over €400 million to SMEs right across the country.

In order to get payments to businesses before the end of 2024, the Power Up grant was aligned with the ICOB scheme and a business must have received the second ICOB grant and be in the hospitality, retail and beauty sectors in order to receive the Power Up grant.

One of the eligibility requirements of these schemes was that a business must be operating from a rated premises. The intention behind this provision was to assist businesses operating from fixed premises to meet some of the ongoing fixed costs of maintaining those premises. Furthermore, the grant recognises that commercially rateable premises are subject to a commercial rates bill, which is a further cost not borne by those who do not operate from a rateable premises.

In terms of broader supports for businesses, the National Enterprise Hub online portal provides all business owners with a centralised signposting service of over 230 Government supports from 23 Departments and Agencies. The Hub has a team of expertly trained advisors who can help to diagnose the needs of your business and direct you to the appropriate available supports or indeed put you in direct contact with the relevant agency. The Hub team can be contacted through the website (www.neh.gov.ie) via live chat or by phone on 01 727 2100.