Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 May 2024
75. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how the recent package of supports for business will impact on business owners; to provide up-to-date county breakdowns of take-up of the ICOB scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23279/24]
View answerThis Government has adopted an active approach in supporting the Irish SME sector across multiple crises over the last number of years.
I recognise costs are impacting firms, and this motivated the recent introduction of a range of additional measures aimed at reducing costs for small and medium sized businesses. Some of which include:
• Ensuring that the employer PRSI threshold is explicitly considered as part of the Low Pay Commission deliberations and is reviewed on each occasion that the minimum wage is increased.
• Increasing the employer PRSI threshold from €441 to €496 with effect from 1 October 2024
• Reopening the Increased Cost of Business Scheme for another 14 days and increasing the grant aid available for businesses operating in the retail and hospitality sectors
• Doubling the Innovation Grant Scheme from €5,000 to €10,000
• Increasing the maximum amount available under the Energy Efficiency Grant Scheme to €10,000 and reducing the business contribution rate from 50% to 25%
• Widening the eligibility for the Trading Online Voucher and doubling the grant to €5,000
• Increasing the lending limit for Microfinance Ireland loans to €50,000 from €25,000
• Widening the eligibility for the Digital for Business Consultancy Scheme
• Launching a new ‘Ireland’s Best Entrepreneur Programme’ to encourage entrepreneurship
• Launching the new online National Enterprise Hub for SMEs to access information on the wide range of Government business supports
I would also emphasise the ongoing support my Department and its agencies provides for enterprise more broadly across Ireland, with a full range of programmes aimed at aiding firms to develop and grow.
The implementation of these measures will improve the cost competitiveness of small and medium sized businesses, in particular –the Low Pay Commission considering the lower employer PRSI threshold as part of any future minimum wage recommendations, and the applications of an enhanced SME Test will ensure that there is increased consideration of business cost implications of future Government decisions.
The latest ICOB registrations per each Local Authority as at 3pm on May 22 are as follows:
|
Local Authority |
Registrations |
Properties |
|
Carlow County Council |
964 |
1114 |
|
Cavan County Council |
1130 |
1265 |
|
Clare County Council |
1881 |
2215 |
|
Cork City Council |
3913 |
4231 |
|
Cork County Council |
4849 |
5248 |
|
Donegal County Council |
2367 |
2719 |
|
Dublin City Council |
7624 |
8388 |
|
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
2553 |
2684 |
|
Fingal County Council |
2885 |
3098 |
|
Galway City Council |
1901 |
2086 |
|
Galway County Council |
1868 |
2124 |
|
Kerry County Council |
2338 |
2556 |
|
Kildare County Council |
2948 |
3051 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
1307 |
1479 |
|
Laois County Council |
917 |
1022 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
471 |
525 |
|
Limerick City and County Council |
2809 |
3512 |
|
Longford County Council |
767 |
909 |
|
Louth County Council |
1932 |
2353 |
|
Mayo County Council |
2498 |
2662 |
|
Meath County Council |
2391 |
2533 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
1206 |
1388 |
|
Offaly County Council |
970 |
1085 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
973 |
1004 |
|
Sligo County Council |
1000 |
1099 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
2995 |
3585 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
2396 |
2872 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
1955 |
2236 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
1381 |
1557 |
|
Wexford County Council |
2699 |
2924 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
2034 |
2328 |
|
Totals |
67,922 |
75,852 |
