Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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36. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will review the criteria for the power up scheme given that some applicants were excluded on minor technicalities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21569/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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As I have previously outlined my Department is aware of issues that have arisen during the registration period, in relation to businesses that were ineligible for the grant due to incorrect classification of their business type while registering for the Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) scheme. My Department has reviewed these issues and consulted with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and with the local authorities.

In order to address this, we are now proposing to open an appeals process that will give those businesses in the retail, hospitality and beauty sectors that were not eligible for ICOB and the Power Up grant because of the misclassification issue, an opportunity to register for those grants.

This is not a re-opening of those grant schemes, rather this is designed to allow those who originally misclassified their business sector an opportunity to register for the grants.

It is intended to open the appeals process as soon as possible following discussions with the local authorities who previously administered both the ICOB and Power Up grant schemes on behalf of my Department.