Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 April 2026
169. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the specific supports his Department is currently developing or enhancing to assist small and medium-sized enterprises in light of ongoing global economic uncertainty, including rising costs, supply chain pressures and geopolitical instability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30087/26]
View answerThe Government recognises that the cost of doing business has been a significant issue for firms in recent years, driven by wider inflationary pressures, particularly energy costs. The Government continues to actively monitor cost developments across all sectors of the economy.
Recent increases in fuel costs, arising from geopolitical developments, are impacting sectors to varying degrees, depending on their reliance on fuel and transport. The Government is conscious of the pressures this volatility is placing on businesses, particularly SMEs, and recognises the importance of reducing the exposure to such shocks. This underlines the need to accelerate the transition towards greater energy independence. Significant investment is being made in renewable energy, electricity grid infrastructure, and energy efficiency, with reducing reliance on fossil fuels central to improving resilience against current and future energy price shocks.
A range of measures is in place across Government to support businesses in managing energy costs and improving efficiency. For example, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers a suite of supports aimed at reducing energy demand and costs. Through the “Easy Wins” campaign, businesses are being encouraged to adopt practical, low-cost measures with rapid payback, including energy management training and energy audits.
For its part, my Department also continues to monitor and promote the supports spanning digitalisation, sustainability, innovation, productivity, and capability-building which are provided to small and medium sized enterprises through the 31 Local Enterprise Offices and Enterprise Ireland.
In addition, the Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme provides long-term, low-cost financing to SMEs and small mid-caps, including those in agriculture and related sectors, with loans ranging from €25,000 to €3 million over terms of up to 10 years, including unsecured lending of up to €500,000.
More broadly, the Government is addressing business costs through the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity, published in September 2025, which sets out 85 actions across six themes to strengthen national competitiveness. In parallel, the Cost of Business Advisory Forum has been established to bring together stakeholders across sectors to identify cost pressures and consider practical measures to address them. The report by the Forum is expected to be published in the coming months.
