Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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51. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to cases whereby businesses that qualify for the Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) grant and the Power Up grant were misclassified in the wrong category; if an appeals system has been established to ensure they can draw this funding down; if this appeal system has been communicated to all local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6750/25]

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 or beauty sector in order to receive the Power Up grant. Both schemes are now closed.

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.

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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52. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to amend the Power Up grant to allow previously non-eligible businesses to apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6506/25]

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 in 2024 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. Both schemes are now closed.

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.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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53. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses in counties Carlow and Kilkenny that applied for the Power Up grant; the number of the applications in each county that were successful; the total value of the grants approved in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6503/25]

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 relation to County Carlow, 550 businesses registered for the Power Up grant, 546 businesses were approved and paid the Grant, which amounted to a total of €2.2 million

877 businesses registered in County Kilkenny for the Power Up grant with 864 businesses approved and paid the grant, which amounted to a total of €3.5 million.