Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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179. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current percentage of Irish SMEs that export services; if exporting by SMEs has increased, decreased, or remained static since 2020; if his Department has a target to increase SME exporting; if so, the target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28384/25]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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180. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on the percentage of Irish SMEs currently exporting services and the domestic value added in Irish service exports from SMEs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28385/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 180 together.

My Department does not collect data on the percentage of SMEs that export. Officials in my Department have consulted with the Central Statistics Office, who have advised that data on the percentage of SMEs that export services is not currently available. 

To achieve sustainable, diversified growth, and enhanced economic resilience, it is vital that the Irish-owned enterprise sector fulfils its potential to scale and succeed on global markets.

The Programme for Government sets out an ambition for 2,500 additional Irish-owned exporters by 2030. To help achieve this ambition, Enterprise Ireland has a strategic priority of fostering an environment that nurtures entrepreneurship, supports the sustainable growth of Irish-owned firms and increases and diversifies Irish exports. In addition, the Local Enterprise Offices are working to help smaller prospective exporters to develop the required capability.

Enterprise Ireland supports to exporting SMEs include direct financial assistance through grants, loans, and equity investments; Market Research and export development assistance; funding and mentoring for Innovation and Research; and facilitating international trade missions and market access opportunities.

The most recent figures illustrate that 2023 was a record year for Irish-owned business in terms of international sales, with companies supported by EI achieving export sales of €34.57 billion.

To support achievement of the Programme for Government commitment, Enterprise Ireland, in collaboration with the Local Enterprise Offices, has introduced a new exporter accelerator for potential first-time exporters to accelerate market entry and fast track more companies on the export journey.

Enterprise policy is supporting Irish companies in their growth into international markets by addressing barriers in access to finance and building stronger pipelines for company development through consistent agency support measures.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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181. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total value of trade between Ireland and the North of Ireland for the years 2018 to 2025, broken down by exports and imports per year, in tabular form. [28386/25]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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182. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the value of trade in goods between Ireland and the North of Ireland for the years 2018 to 2025, broken down by exports and imports per year, in tabular form. [28387/25]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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183. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the value of trade in services between Ireland and the North of Ireland for the years 2018 to 2025, broken down by exports and imports per year, in tabular form. [28388/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 181, 182 and 183 together.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) compiles statistical data in relation to Goods exports and imports. CSO data for goods trade between Ireland and Northern Ireland in 2018 - 2025 are shown in the table below