Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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248. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of employers in the hairdressing and barber sector related to increased operational costs that pose a risk to their long-term viability, particularly for smaller businesses; the actions he will take to engage with this sector on these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49923/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I acknowledge the challenges facing employers in the hairdressing and barber sector in tackling the rising costs of doing business in Ireland. My Department is implementing measures to support enterprise, protect jobs, and foster a competitive, sustainable business environment.

As a matter of priority, the Government accelerated the publication of the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity, which was published on the 10th of September 2025. This plan focuses on strengthening the resilience and international competitiveness of Irish SMEs by addressing business costs, supporting SME scaling, and boosting research, development, and innovation.

One of the six themes set out in the Action Plan is ‘Regulating for Growth and Controlling Costs’. Priority actions include the Department of the Taoiseach leading on a range of actions aimed at regulatory reform across Government Departments, a ‘Red Tape Challenge’ across Government to significantly reduce regulation for SMEs, improving decision timelines on environmental licence decisions, and implementing the outstanding recommendations from the Review of the Administration of Civil Justice: Review Group Report (2020). These measures, among a range of others will help tackle the rising cost of doing business.

The Programme for Government also sought to establish the Cost of Business Advisory Forum which is a commitment in supporting small businesses. The Forums’ key objective is to examine and identify the concerns of enterprise around the impact of the rising cost of doing business in Ireland. The membership comprises of SMEs, enterprise and industry representative bodies across a number of sectors. Engagement from state agencies, regulatory bodies and various Government departments ensure there is tripartite collaboration.

The aim over the coming six months is for the Forum to jointly consider issues that can lead to higher costs for businesses at a regional and national level in Ireland. The Forum considered Energy & Water Costs and Security of Supply in July and Insurance in September. The Forum will also focus on topics such as Legal Services, Regulation and Planning. The goal of the Forum is to present a report to Government that will outline findings and highlight those steps that could be taken to mitigate issues arising from increased costs or any associated regulatory or infrastructural issues that merit a changed approach.

Recently, a series of measures have been adopted to help minimise cost pressures for Irish firms. These include extending the timeline for the introduction of the Living Wage by three years (to 2029) and a halt further increases under the Statutory Sick Leave scheme.

Last year’s Budget also provided a range of supports, including those related to the cost of doing business, to ensure that the enterprise tax landscape continues to stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship, which is vital to enhance productivity.