Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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357. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on his Department's engagement with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism, and Employment on reaching an agreement to implement a resolution regarding the ICOB and power up grant appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33738/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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In total, €400 million in grant aid was successfully paid to SMEs right across the country in 2024 under the Increased Cost of Business scheme and the Power Up grant.

Following the launch of Power Up, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and local authorities became aware of an issue where businesses misclassified their business sector and were subsequently not eligible for the grant.

In order to address this, the Government recently approved 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, this is designed solely to allow those who originally misclassified their business sector an opportunity to register for the grants.

Subject to agreement with the local authorities, it is intended to open the appeals process as soon as possible and local authorities will contact the eligible businesses and inform them of the necessary steps to apply.