Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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281. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the sense checks that are in place for legislation to minimise the impact on SMEs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13059/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government is clear in setting out the importance of SMEs to our economy. Developing Ireland's enterprise base will remain a key priority and we will strive to reduce costs, administrative burdens and bureaucracy for businesses. As Minister, I will be putting a particular focus on simplification and burden reduction.

The SME Test is a tool that encourages policymakers across Government to consider the impact that any new policy, legislation, or regulation, may have on SMEs, and to mitigate against those impacts where appropriate. Through the SME Test, we are driving home the importance of the “think small first” principle and scrutinising new legislation, policies and initiatives to ensure that SMEs are not disproportionately impacted.

In September 2024, the Government agreed that initiatives to minimise the regulatory burden on SMEs would be introduced which would:

(a) rigorously apply the new SME Test across Government Departments,

(b) seek to extend application of the Test to the wider public service and regulatory bodies, and,

(c) consult with business to identify additional areas across Departments/Agencies where the regulatory burden could be reduced, and additionally, that Departments would be asked to report back to Government with the aim of reducing the regulatory burden on business.

Updated SME Test Guidelines were developed by my officials and these have been issued to all Departments. Departments are now obliged to publish SME Tests on their websites.

My Department and the Department of the Taoiseach have recently engaged in a series of bilateral meetings with business representative groups. Officials have gathered their feedback on the most problematic areas of administrative and regulatory burdens currently faced by their members. This feedback is helping to inform the approach to commitments in the Programme for Government around reducing administrative burdens.