Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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378. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will urgently rectify the current situation whereby small businesses who for one reason or another missed out on the Power Up Grant and take into consideration the fact that these grants can make a very real difference in regard to continuing in business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8080/25]

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.

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.

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.

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 () via live chat or by phone on 01 727 2100.