Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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521. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline his Department’s strategy to support small and micro-enterprises in rural counties like Waterford, particularly in relation to access to affordable credit, reform of commercial rates, the introduction of an employer PRSI rebate for small firms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23400/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government commits to the establishment of a Cost of Business Advisory Forum, which will include a review of all business costs. That Forum is expected to propose measures to alleviate the cost burden on businesses, particularly small enterprises in Ireland.

Additionally, the Government has agreed to expedite the creation of an Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity, with the aim of producing a draft for discussion at a Ministerial Summit in July. This plan will identify concrete, actionable reforms across the Government to enhance our competitive edge, covering industrial policy, reducing costs and regulatory burdens on businesses, investing in infrastructure, digital regulation and reform, energy reform, international trade, research and development, and innovation.

Balanced regional development is a Government priority, and a central component of the White Paper on Enterprise 2022-2030 is to support balanced regional enterprise development. My Department and its agencies contribute to this agenda through the nine Regional Enterprise Plans. These plans are developed and led by regional stakeholders, focusing on collaborative initiatives to strengthen the enterprise ecosystem in each region. The Regional Enterprise Plan for the South-East focuses on the counties of Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, and Wexford, and includes stakeholders from Enterprise Agencies, LEOs, Local Authorities, Regional Skills, Higher and Further Education, Fáilte Ireland, private sector companies, and others.

Regarding access to finance for SMEs, my Department is committed to assisting Irish businesses with targeted interventions and supports, including State-supported loan schemes, which are continuously reviewed.

Furthermore, legislation is going through the Houses of the Oireachtas to bring Microfinance Ireland under the remit of my Department. This will underpin the expanding level of Microfinance Ireland's activity in providing microfinance throughout Ireland, as microenterprises seek to start up, survive, and grow. Microfinance Ireland provides vital support to microenterprises by filling the lending gap in the market, lending to businesses that cannot obtain loans from other commercial lenders. In 2024, 78% of loans approved were for microenterprises outside Dublin, demonstrating a wide regional distribution.

The Minister for Housing, Local Government, and Heritage is responsible for commercial rates, while the Minister for Social Protection is responsible for PRSI.

The Government is committed to fostering a thriving business environment in rural areas, ensuring that SMEs have the necessary support to innovate, grow, and contribute to local economies.