Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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884. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to explain how funding for Microfinance Ireland is accounted for in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2025, given that only €1,000 is assigned to MFI while it approves several million euro in loans each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41081/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Microfinance Ireland is funded through periodic capital injections from the Exchequer, which are administered via the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. These funds are utilised on a revolving basis, whereby loan repayments received from borrowers are reinvested to support ongoing lending activity. This approach ensures the sustainability of the Microenterprise Loan Fund Scheme, enabling Microfinance Ireland to continue providing loans of up to €50,000 to viable microenterprises that are unable to secure credit through traditional banking channels.

Since MFI establishment in 2012, the State has contributed a total of €49.8 million to the Microenterprise Loan Fund, with the most recent contribution of €5 million in 2021. As of 31 December 2024, the Fund has a balance sheet value of approximately €27.8 million, including a cash reserve of €16.6 million.

Between 2012 and 31 March 2025, MFI has approved over €95.8 million in loans, supporting nearly 11,000 jobs across 5,727 microenterprises.

The €1,000 allocation included in REV 2025 is a technical provision intended to provide administrative flexibility should supplementary funding be required during the year. Should any substantive additional funding needs arise these would be subject of approval by the Dáil through a Supplementary Estimate.