Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

64. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses in Cork city and Cork county that applied for the Power Up grant; the number of applications in each local authority area that were successful; the total value of the grants approved in each local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6501/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 Cork, and the Power Up grant, in Cork City, 1,815 businesses registered for the Power Up grant, with 1,773 being approved to the value of €7 million.

In Cork County, 2,844 businesses registered for the Power Up grant and 2,804 businesses were approved to the value of €11.2 million.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

65. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline the supports being provided to businesses following Storm Éowyn, if he is considering schemes to provide supports following future extreme weather events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6761/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Government is acutely aware of the significant challenges that the impacts of Storm Éowyn has caused for business owners over recent weeks.

Since 24 January, I have been closely monitoring the situation in relation to Storm Éowyn and its impacts on the business community through regular updates from the National Emergency Coordination Group and updates from Local Enterprise Offices in the counties with the most significant and prolonged impacts.

Following the immediate damage caused by the storm, many businesses have been impacted by subsequent outages in relation to power, water and communications networks.

With regard the issue of potential schemes to support businesses with losses arising from Storm Éowyn, I would in the first instance encourage businesses to seek recourse through their insurance providers to cover losses incurred.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has in the past operated targeted Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Scheme in response to specific flooding incidents. These schemes are specifically targeted to providing a contribution to small businesses of up to 20 employees as well as community, voluntary and sporting bodies who have experienced damage as a result of flooding and to help them get back up and running. A condition of eligibility for these schemes is that the businesses must not have been able to secure flood insurance through no fault of its own.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to an Extreme Weather Event Assistance Scheme, designed to support affected households, farms and businesses. This initiative predates Storm Éowyn and is a strategic policy action for delivery. Officials in my Department have begun working as a matter of urgency on the aspects of such a scheme relevant to the business sector.

Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

66. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action he is taking to support the retail sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6679/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Retail Forum, that I chair as Minister of State for Small Businesses and Retail, was established in 2014, and remains an important platform for engagement with the retail sector. It allows for open discussions between retail stakeholders and Government on issues of importance to it and affords members the opportunity to identify practical actions to be implemented by government, or by the sector itself, to ensure its economic resilience.

The forum meets on a quarterly basis.

Membership of the Retail Forum includes retailers, retail representative bodies, and the public sector.

The Retail Forum’s annual work programme is co-created and driven by Retail Forum members and includes issues that they have identified as being critical to examine.

The current priorities of the Forum include -

• Supporting the sector to deal issues impacting the sector including the cost of doing business and crime.
• Addressing relevant policy and legislation impacting on the retail sector.

• The Government will bring forward measures to support SMEs, in particular the retail and hospitality sectors, acknowledging the increased cost pressures on these sectors and this will entail changes to VAT, PRSI and other measures. These measures will be implemented as part of the normal budget process.
• Assist businesses in adopting sustainable practices and digital technologies and work to support policies that increase retail digitalisation.
• Take steps to tackle retail crime. The Government will publish a Retail Crime Strategy with targeted actions to reduce retail crime and support affected businesses. Update the Public Order Acts to allow a prolific offender of retail crime to be excluded from a premises for a certain period of time. Support Garda Operations to tackle retail crime including through the use of organised crime and proceeds of crime legislation. Examine the introduction of a specific offence of assaulting a retail worker. Introduce a new grant scheme for anti-theft and prevention measures. Improve data sharing between retailers and Gardaí. Expand the use of community sanctions for retail crime. Tackle the practice of ‘retail defamation’.
• Create an ‘Above the Shop’ living refurbishment grant by topping up the vacant and derelict refurbishment grant. This will help make spaces above retail premises liveable.
• Commission an independent review into the speed and level of passthrough from wholesale prices to retail prices, with an additional assessment of the overall price dynamics and an overall focus on the competitiveness of the Irish economy.

Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

67. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what measures he is taking to enable start-ups to become scale-ups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6366/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The new Programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, places an emphasis on assisting Irish owned businesses to scale up and to succeed on international markets.

My Department supports start-ups to scale into successful businesses by providing a comprehensive range of supports and resources through Enterprise Ireland (EI) and the Local Enterprise Offices, including grants and equity investments to help start-ups develop their products, build teams, and expand production capabilities.

Enterprise Ireland grant supports cover a wide range of business needs, from research and development to market expansion and sustainability initiatives. For example, start-ups can access funding to develop prototypes, conduct feasibility studies, and implement innovative technologies, which are crucial steps in refining their products and services. This financial backing not only alleviates the initial financial burden but also enables start-ups to focus on strategic growth and innovation.

Equity investments from EI further bolster start-ups by providing significant capital injections that can be used to scale operations, enter new markets, and attract top talent. These investments often come with the added benefit of strategic guidance and mentorship from experienced professionals, helping start-ups navigate the complexities of scaling a business. EI’s management development programs enhance business capabilities in areas such as innovation, digitalisation, and sustainability. By combining financial support with expert advice, it is ensured that start-ups have the resources and knowledge needed to achieve sustainable growth and compete on a global stage.

International growth is also facilitated by connecting start-ups with opportunities and introductions through the network of EI's 39 international offices. These provide expert advice on navigating new markets, from conducting research to establishing digital sales channels. This holistic approach ensures that start-ups not only receive the financial support they need but also gain the strategic insights and connections necessary to achieve sustainable international success.

Government is committed to helping small businesses across all sectors to start-up, grow and create sustainable employment across the country. The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) play an extremely important role at local level, as part of a supportive ecosystem, providing their services direct to small businesses and promoting entrepreneurship within towns and communities across the country.

The LEO Policy Statement 2024 -2030, published last year, commits to a continued joint engagement, in every county, to sustain the number of small businesses moving from LEOs to EI, as appropriate to their stage of development. The extension of the LEO mandate and the collaboration between LEOs and Enterprise Ireland will ensure a flow of developing companies who wish to transition between the enterprise development agencies and will ensure continued jobs growth.