Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions
1. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the way in which he will address the disparity in income levels across the State; the way in which he will ensure high-paid jobs are not only centralised in major urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13851/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhat is Minister doing about the disparity in income levels across the State and what is he doing to ensure that well-paid jobs are not just centralised in the major urban areas but also spread out to the regions?
I and many other rural and regional Deputies stand here week in, week out asking for fairness and balanced regional investment to attract secure and well-paid jobs to our regions. We have an over-concentration of high-paid employment in major urban centres forcing people to relocate or commute long distances just to access employment opportunities.
The programme for Government sets out a strong enterprise and fiscal framework that prioritises economic and employment growth. Last year, the Irish labour market saw sustained employment growth and rising participation with a record number of persons at work at 2.8 million people so our policies are working and our economy is resilient. The latest data to hand shows that our labour market was better than many had expected in the latter part of 2025 with the monthly unemployment rate revised down to 4.7% in December. Other data, such as CSO information on employee payrolls, also shows positive momentum at the end of 2025 with employee numbers up 2%. However, I do expect that activity levels will moderate through this year in part due to international conditions but also given that the labour market is close to full employment.
My Department is continually monitoring labour market conditions and several of our recent initiatives will be central to supporting the broader economy not least our ambitious investment plans and the action plan on competitiveness and productivity I published last year. The Government remains fully committed to improving our competitive position and adding more jobs in the future and the action plan has a range of measures to build a more resilient economy.
Another important initiative on the labour market front will be the successor strategy to Pathways to Work 2021-2025, which is overseen by the Department of Social Protection. That Department has recently concluded a public consultation on this as the Government looks to develop a new successor strategy.
In respect of the high paid jobs being centred on major urban areas, it is important to stress this Government’s commitment to balanced regional development. Over the past number of years, we have seen strong regional development with intensive employment growth post-pandemic. Since the pandemic, numbers at work have increased by close to one fifth - 440,000 persons. In fact, budget 2026 highlighted in particular the spread of employment growth with job gains in every region in marked contrast to previous employment expansions. For example, between 2013 and 2019, growth was disproportionately driven by Dublin.
The newly released 2024 data from the CSO shows stark disparities in disposable income and worrying employment trends, particularly around the northern and western region. I will set out some of the figures that are causing me concern. The average disposable income per person nationally in 2024 was €30,139 but in the northern and western region, it was €27,166. In Mayo, it was €27,343, which was almost 10% below the national average. That is not a marginal gap but a clear regional imbalance that confirms what communities already know, which is that workers in the northern and western region are more likely to be in lower-paid employment and have less money left at the end of the month. Even more alarmingly, in 2024, 58,140 people were recorded as employed in jobs physically located in Mayo, which was a drop of 8.7% on 2023.
I would point out that the gold standard for us as politicians and our citizens is the CSO. It has pointed out that all 13 sectors of the economy are growing equally and that the gross average industrial wage is over €1,000 per week, which is a 45% increase since 2015. We have seen 2,700 new jobs in the west over the past year, which means 2,700 families have an additional income this year compared to last year. It also means that we are working to ensure we have very strong clients based on budget 2026. Look at Hollister in the Deputy's own area. Look at AbbeVie, Coca-Cola, Fanta and Baxter. These are huge multinational clients providing high-value jobs in the west. The policies in budget 2026, particularly our research, development and innovation tax credit, will deliver high-quality, high-paid jobs and that is what this Government is committed to doing.
There is something to see here. I ask the Minister to pay attention to this because what I quoted to him in terms of the drop of 8.7% in 2024 in Mayo alone represents 5,540 fewer jobs located in the county in just one year. Yes, some people commute to neighbouring counties but when the number of jobs physically based in a county falls so sharply, it signals declining regional investment and missed opportunity. While this data does not yet include 2025, it paints a deeply worrying picture of growing regional inequality. The statistics do not lie. Balanced regional development cannot just remain a slogan. If high-paid jobs continue to cluster in a small number of urban centres, we will deepen the housing crisis pressures in those cities, hollow out rural communities and widen the income gap between regions so we need very targeted regional enterprise strategies and stronger incentives for high-value industries to locate in the northern and western region.
The data I am quoting relates to quarter 3 of 2025, so this is the up-to-date data regarding new high-quality jobs going to the west. The figure is 2,700. There are 3,900 new jobs in the midlands while the figure in the south west grew by about 4.7%, so all sectors are growing, all component parts that make up our economy are growing and our wages are growing. Critically, the key point in the CSO annual return in December was that this is the first time that we have seen real wage growth in our economy and that the growth in wages outpaced the rate of inflation, which means people have more purchasing power. The data is very clear for everyone to see. We want to continue on the basis of budget 2026 to bring more high-quality jobs to rural areas. Our IDA strategy is very focused on that with 55% going to the regions. This will be key to delivering that over the next five years and we are very much committed to doing that.
2. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether he will increase the minimum wage for apprentices to address the construction sector skills gap. [13853/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraWe need about 80,000 additional construction workers to meet our infrastructural needs and goals over the coming years. That means we have to make apprenticeships much more attractive for people to go into, so we have the tradespeople and the craftspeople to deliver on those infrastructural goals. We also have skills shortages in many other areas. There are many aspects to making it more attractive to take up apprenticeships but increasing the minimum payment, particularly in the first few years of apprenticeships, is critical. Does the Minister of State intend to raise these minimum pay rates for apprentices?
My Department has responsibility for the National Minimum Wage Act 2000. The Act prescribes the minimum hourly rate of pay for the majority of employees in Ireland subject to a small number of exemptions. Apprentices are excluded from the Act and from the right to receive the national minimum wage. Apprentices are excluded from the National Minimum Wage Act in recognition of the unique nature of apprenticeships and the fact that a long-established practice for determining rates, which adequately protects apprentices, exists.
Apprenticeships offer a unique combination of education and work experience. When the national minimum wage was first introduced, it was recognised that providing an exemption for apprentices would promote apprenticeships and encourage employers to focus on training apprentices and offering opportunities to them while at the same time recognising the cost to employers in terms of time invested and productivity forgone.
Apprentices are employees and all of the 78 apprenticeship programmes are undertaken under a contract of employment. For the majority of apprenticeships, the rate of pay is agreed between the apprentice and the employer with the employer paying the apprentice during both on-the-job and off-the-job training elements. For the 25 craft apprenticeship programmes, the minimum rates of pay applying under the employment contract are either agreed within the relevant sector or are set out in legally binding sectoral employment orders recommended by the Labour Court.
I know that considerations regarding apprentice wages may affect learner and employer demand for apprenticeships. Wage levels may present a barrier to entry to apprenticeships for some individuals. Conversely, wage costs and training costs may discourage some employers from hiring apprentices. We must consider this issue very carefully.
While I take the point about apprentices in training, the CSO has reported that over 90% of apprentices who qualified in 2020 were in employment two years later with median weekly earnings of €935 and over €48,600 annually.
The average starter age for somebody taking up an apprenticeship is 21 to 22 years. While many of those are living at home, many are not, and some want to get out of home. If the Minister of State wants to make it attractive, a first-year wage of €7.67 per hour or €11.50 per hour in the second year is not exactly an attractive option. If they are living out of home or if they have children, it is completely unsustainable. There are then added things like equipment costs, which are very significant for many apprentices, transport costs and so on.
We have got a major problem in delivering on our housing goals. We are failing significantly. We are tens of thousands short of what we need annually in terms of houses to put roofs over the heads of the people in this country. We have to make it more attractive and that means raising these pitifully low wages, particularly in the first and second years for apprentices.
The Government is taking important steps with regard to supporting the apprenticeship programme. We have seen huge investment in recent years. In budget 2026, we allocated over €78 million to the apprenticeship programme. This investment is delivering significant results. We have seen annual apprenticeship registrations increase from 5,326 in 2020 to 9,352 at the end of 2024. We are very ambitious to drive that to 12,500 by 2030 and, indeed, we have worked with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to try to support that. Our focus is on supporting entry and ensuring that we have retention and completion. The Government's new updated action plan on careers in construction for 2026 is an important element of that. It specifically looks at barriers to participation, especially for women, but also for those who are under-represented and those we can include into the construction sector because, as the Deputy said earlier, we need to ramp up the number of apprenticeships coming through.
The number of people has increased, but it is still well short of what we need because, as we know, we have a housing emergency, we have water infrastructure that we have to develop and we have shortages in a whole number of areas, including a shortage of chefs. We have to make it more attractive. The further education committee is producing a report next week which goes into many aspects of this. I repeat that the wage for the first year is €7.67 per hour and for the second year is €11.50 per hour. If the average age of people going into apprenticeships is 21 to 22, it is just not a runner. I cannot say it is not a runner because some people do it, but it is tough going. If the Minister is talking about inclusion and the barriers that exist for women, people with disabilities and different groups, this is a serious barrier and we need to do something about it. Part of the reason I am in favour of a State construction company is so we can take on more apprentices on better rates and make it more attractive to be an apprentice. At a minimum, we need to raise those first-year and second-year rates to minimum-wage rates.
We are all in agreement that we need to address the construction skills gap and that is very much central to the Government's strategy. We do not want to price young people or employers out of the system and that is important to reflect on. We are investing in career pathways, educational access and targeted incentives. We are very much focused on building confidence in careers within the construction sector through apprenticeships and we want to do that. As I said earlier, apprentices are not at the bottom of the pay scale when it comes to their transition with a skill that they have developed over their apprentice programme. Most who qualify are on over €49,000 per year two years post entry into the sector. That is reflective of the programme they undertake, but also their post-qualification position and what that means.
We need to do more and that is why we are continuing to invest with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science on the craft apprenticeship programme to address the skills gap across the sector.
3. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to provide an update on the comprehensive review assessing the cost structures for SME and family-owned businesses, which can be found in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13850/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe cost of doing business in this State for small and medium-sized enterprises, SMEs; family-owned businesses; and the self-employed is running out of control. In the programme for Government, it is listed that the Government will conduct a comprehensive review to assess the cost structures for SMEs and family-owned businesses to identify areas where costs can be reduced. Will the Minister provide an update on this review? Will he tell businesses the areas he has identified where costs will be cut?
I thank Deputy Conway-Walsh for her important question. The Government recently established the Cost of Business Advisory Forum and published the action plan on competitiveness and productivity, both of which are commitments in Programme for Government: Securing Ireland’s Future. The establishment of the Cost of Business Advisory Forum delivers on the commitment regarding supports for small businesses, enterprise and industries. The forum is a tripartite collaboration bringing together various representative bodies spanning multiple sectors as well as SMEs. The purpose is to jointly consider those issues that can lead to higher costs for businesses in Ireland, any associated regulatory or infrastructural issues that merit a changed approach, and steps that could be taken to mitigate these issues.
The first meeting of the advisory forum took place in June. Numerous organisations representing Ireland’s enterprise sector, including SMEs, were joined by officials from a variety of State agencies and Government Departments. The second meeting, which was the forum’s first thematic meeting, took place in July and focused on energy costs and security of supply. Other thematic meetings included a meeting on insurance costs in August, a meeting on regulation and planning in September, November’s meeting focused on water services, the meeting in January of this year focused on legal costs, and a meeting on tax reporting and compliance took place yesterday. The forum has met regularly over the past eight months, with each meeting devoted to a distinct thematic area of concern for businesses. There are two outstanding meetings. The last thematic meeting will be on banking, payments and financial services and will take place on 25 March. The last meeting of the forum will focus on members' feedback in relation to the final report to the Government and is scheduled for the first half of 2026.
The focus of the action plan on competitiveness and productivity is on the key actions that can be taken to strengthen Ireland’s competitiveness and productivity which in turn will lead to improvements in our economic performance. The action plan was published on 10 September 2025 and contains 85 actions across six themes, including the third theme, which focuses on creating and scaling more SMEs.
Go raibh maith agat, Minister, for that update. The important thing is that it makes a difference on the ground and makes a difference to businesses because the situation facing SMEs with regard to costs is increasingly more unsustainable. We saw 848 insolvencies last year. I fear for what the number will be in 2026. At the end of 2025, 80% of businesses from across all sectors that participated in the SME business sentiment survey by Chartered Accountants Ireland and GRID Finance reported an increase in their costs, with a special mention for energy costs. It was reported yesterday that Irish business confidence has fallen to just 54%. This is the lowest level since the Covid-19 pandemic, and it is down sharply from 81% at the beginning of the year. In contrast, 74% of SMEs globally remain optimistic about the year ahead with only a slight year-on-year decline, so there is something we need to focus on here.
I focus on evidence. I refer, for example, to the measures that were taken in budget 2026, such as the reduction in the VAT rate for the hospitality sector. We are giving the sector 4.5% on its margin to assist with its costs and we are saying that we need 7% growth right across the tourism sector under our strategy, A New Era for Irish Tourism. We have also reduced energy costs with the 9% VAT rate on gas and electricity. We have increased the loan limit available from Microfinance Ireland to €50,000 for low-cost loans into the sector and will be coming forward with a working capital programme to succeed the growth and stability loan of €500 million, which was utilised late last year. We also increased the innovation voucher to €10,000. Critically, we reduced a host of conditions for sustainability grants like the energy-efficiency scheme, which gives €10,000, or 75% of the cost, to small businesses like local shops and butchers. Such small businesses on the high street are so important to the fabric of rural life. We will keep doing that and keep working to ensure we do our best to reduce those key costs for businesses.
The question that must be asked is this: what is happening here at home? When we look globally, the Minister has named all of the initiatives he is doing but why are Irish business leaders growing even more pessimistic about the future? Confidence in projected revenue growth dropped dramatically at the end of last year, from 79% to 59% in just three months. When businesses were asked about increasing head count in 2026, the figure dropped from 59% to 46%. These figures are not abstract statistics; they signal the slowing of growth, reduced hiring and growing uncertainty across local economies. We need to look at this and we need more actions.
SMEs and family-owned businesses are the backbone of our economy. They sustain communities, provide employment in rural and urban Ireland and drive innovation and local enterprise. The programme for Government recognised the need for a comprehensive review of SME cost structures. Businesses are now urgently waiting for that to make a real difference in their businesses and in keeping their doors open.
I am very acutely aware of the cost of doing business. That is why we have brought forward a forum, it is why we are going to take action in this regard and it is why we have taken a suite of measures across budget 2026. We know what is happening in the Irish economy; 2.82 million people are employed in our country. That is a record. We know that the average wage is €1,000 per week. That is a record; it is up 45% since 2015. We know that all 13 sectors of the economy that are measured in the CSO data are growing. That is a record right now in this country. Our tax revenue coming in to resolve the infrastructural deficits we have is at a record level.
I would point out that the Deputy has opposed every attempt I have made to stabilise small businesses, from subminimum rates to the living wage to sick days - every area that drives costs for business. If you ask a small family business what its biggest driver and challenge is, you will be told that it is wages. The biggest challenge for every business is wages. We are assisting with that and we are helping real wage growth in the economy, where we know our most vulnerable employees are outpacing the rate of inflation with their pay packets.
4. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his concerns regarding the high levels of youth unemployment; the initiatives he has in place to tackle it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13849/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraWe wanted a PRSI rebate in the budget to help businesses with their costs, including additional labour costs. We need good, quality jobs. We do not need a race to the bottom but we will have that discussion on another day. I wish to ask the Minister if he is concerned about the levels of youth employment. What initiatives is he putting in place to tackle it? I am deeply concerned with the consistently high level of youth unemployment here. The latest figures for January show that it stands at 12%; it wavers between 12% and 14%.
I thank the Deputy for her question. The programme for Government sets out a strong enterprise and fiscal framework that prioritises economic and employment growth, with a target of creating 300,000 extra jobs by 2030. I am pleased to report that the Irish labour market saw sustained employment growth, rising labour force participation and record job numbers last year, indicative of a resilient performance. In total, over 2.8 million people are now employed in Ireland.
The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.7% in January, broadly consistent with full employment. The youth unemployment rate, for those between the ages of 15 and 24, increased slightly to 11.8% in January but remains well below the EU and euro area averages. It is not unusual for youth unemployment rates to be higher than those of older cohorts. This can be due to a lack of relevant work experience among youth workers, skills mismatches, or difficulties experienced in moving between education and employment, with clear seasonal and demographic patterns. However, many of these factors are temporary in nature. As young people widen their professional networks and gain broader work and life experience, their employment prospects improve. It is also important that we focus on employment as well as unemployment, with the former clearly under the remit of my Department.
The statistics show that we created a lot of jobs right across the economy last year and that our employment rates for young people are very high by any margin, certainly in comparison to our European peers. It is important to stress that huge numbers of our young people are in education or training as well as in employment. I can point the Deputy to CSO data for this very subject, in particular the CSO data on a series of measures in regard to the numbers of people not in employment, education or training, the so-called not in education, employment or training, NEETs, rate. In 2023, for Ireland, the rate was 8.6% relative to an average of 12.1% across Europe. We are doing so much right here in creating opportunities for young people.
The Minister of State rightly says that this is not unique to Ireland but I do not think that is a reason for saying that everything is okay. If you look at the EU average, yes, it is 15%. In Britain it is 15.3%. However, there are actions that need to be taken here. For unemployment in general, we have nearly three times that rate for youth unemployment. Young people who complete their education are struggling to find well-paid work. They deserve to have career prospects after completing their studies or training and having invested in obtaining a qualification. Some 44,600 people aged 15 to 24 years are currently unemployed in this country. When we say unemployed, obviously that is not people in education but it is people who are available for and willing to work. I take on board what the Minister of State is saying around the lack of experience and all that but again, I think there is something worrying happening here in youth unemployment. These people are not in any form of education or training and we need to put initiatives in place.
I disagree entirely with the suggestion that Government is not doing anything and is complacent on youth employment. We can see from the CSO's recent data that it has clearly identified a temporary demographic and seasonal effect, while there is also a surge in young people entering the labour force for the very first time. That is not a collapse in youth opportunity; it is, in one sense, supported through the creation by this Government, across many sectors, of job opportunities within engineering, green technology and construction. We have seen a huge number of new opportunities being created, even in 2025. We are also seeing that most of the recent increases in youth employment affect those without post-secondary qualifications. That is why we have, as a Government, invested in programmes such as Springboard+ and MicroCreds and expanded the apprenticeship network. As I said earlier, we have an ambitious programme to continue to invest in apprenticeships to ensure that every young person can transition from learning and earn the right skills to enter the workforce correctly.
My view of the world is different from that of the Minister of State. When you look at our own county, you see that Youthreach is a really good programme in regard to addressing disadvantage and social exclusion. We have waiting lists to get onto those programmes in Ballina and Kiltimagh. We do not have either the physical space to be able to do the training with them or the personnel. I ask the Minister of State to look at that in particular. We cannot leave so many young people behind. There are real social and economic consequences to leaving so many people behind and with adjustments, things could be done.
There needs to be a joining up of further and higher education and the workforce as well, which I do not believe is happening to the extent that it needs to be happening. In regard to investment in career guidance, it needs to start at a much earlier age - I would even say in national school, with regard to people's subject choices when they go into secondary school and taking it on from there. We do not have enough career guidance within the schools to ensure that young people can avail of the opportunities that match their interests and skills.
I agree with some of the Deputy's suggestions in regard to continued investment in key actions under Pathways to Work. I know that needs to provide enhanced supports for young people and jobseekers. The establishment of the employment and youth engagement charter is important to bring employers and young people together to tackle the barriers in regard to getting into the workforce.
As I said earlier, we need to continue to strengthen the partnership between our further education and private employment sectors and consider how the Government can support that.
We need to break the cycle whereby, if there is no experience, people are not entitled to a job, or if there is no job, there can be no experience. This is about aligning policy with education reform. We are making an important partnership by expanding flexibility around blended forms of learning and, as I said earlier, the apprenticeship model. We will continue to do that.
5. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the specific supports which are available to indigenous SMEs operating in rural towns to ensure their long-term sustainability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13848/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Minister knows, small and medium enterprises are the backbone of our economy. Many of our young people end up getting their first job or first experience in these businesses. What specific supports are available to indigenous small and medium enterprises operating in rural towns to ensure their long-term sustainability?
I am committed to boosting the competitiveness and long-term sustainability of SMEs across the country by supporting them to reduce costs and improve their overall productivity. The Government now has a range of supports available to SMEs to save on energy costs, while improving their sustainability. The local enterprise offices, based within the 31 local authorities, offer advice, consultancy and grants in the areas of lean, green and digital. These grants focus on enhancing productivity and improving competitiveness in small businesses.
Effective and efficient use of materials and resources can make a significant difference to the profitability of businesses, making them more sustainable and increasing their ability to respond to shocks in the economy. For example, the energy efficiency grant offers up to €10,000, or 75% of the costs, for small businesses to invest in technologies and equipment identified in a Green for Business, GreenStart or SEAI energy audit. The aim of the scheme is to reduce the impact of enterprises on the environment and, critically, their energy costs in the longer term.
Enterprise Ireland has a broad range of supports that help rural SMEs improve productivity, embrace digital tools and transition to a low-carbon future, which will be essential for their long-term sustainability. These include the climate action voucher, which provides up to two days of independent training or advisory services to develop an initial sustainability action plan, and GreenStart, which provides up to €5,000 to fund the cost of hiring a sustainability consultant to introduce best practice sustainable systems to the business. Additionally, the Climate Toolkit 4 Business is a free online resource where SMEs can estimate and understand their businesses' carbon footprint. Businesses receive a tailored climate action plan specific to their business, with recommendations on the most impactful steps they can take, and directions to the Government supports to help them achieve these steps.
I welcome the work being carried out by the local enterprise offices and Enterprise Ireland. Their support and engagement with businesses is widely recognised and is making a real difference. However, when speaking to SME owners, particularly in rural towns, the message is clear: they need more practical, easy-to-access supports that help with the real cost of doing business. Many enterprises, especially those that provide services rather than manufacture products, feel they are often left in the wilderness when it comes to qualifying for certain schemes. Retailers, hospitality providers and other local service businesses are the backbone of our communities. They create jobs, drive footfall and sustain town centres, yet some believe that existing supports are not always designed with their needs in mind.
One measure that is frequently raised is the reintroduction of a scheme similar to the Power Up grant, which provided straightforward assistance when businesses needed it most. Will the Minister give consideration to bringing back a targeted grant to help SMEs manage ongoing cost pressures?
There is also growing concern about rising employment costs. While increases in the minimum wage are important, small employers are asking that future changes be linked more closely to inflation and introduced in a predictable manner, so they can plan ahead with confidence. Above all, we must continue listening to people on the ground.
I thank Deputy McCormack for his concern. I will make a few points. First, in addition to the sustainability grants, digitalisation allows businesses to either grow their revenue or reduce their cost base. That is a key way to change the business model. The critical thing about a grant is that the business does not change its model, which potentially leads to an unsustainable pathway, so it has to be done every single year. Businesses can increase revenue or reduce costs. That is how they get on a winning path. We are trying to continue with that. Our National Enterprise Hub has 250 supports. I would encourage all SMEs to log onto that to get the details on the range of supports.
I would also point out that we have reduced the VAT rate on gas and electricity for SMEs, and we reduced the VAT rate on hospitality to 9% from 1 July. I am saying to businesses in the hospitality sector that that is 4.5% on their margins. I need 7% growth from them to ensure we get a very strong return of jobs and revenue back into the Exchequer.
We also did a huge amount of work with the low-cost loans, increasing the microfinance loan to €50,000 and doubling the investment innovation voucher to €10,000.
No business should feel invisible when it comes to Government support, yet many service-based SMEs believe they are overlooked simply because they do not manufacture or export. These businesses face significant overheads before they even open their doors, from licences and regulatory requirements to insurance, energy, wages and other rising costs. Despite these pressures, they continue to provide local employment and play a vital role in keeping town centres alive. If we are serious about supporting them, we need to commit to delivering at least one new practical support specifically for service-based SMEs this year, and to engaging directly with business owners on the ground so the supports reflect the real challenges they face. Listening is important but it must lead to action. What clear, practical step can be taken now to reassure these businesses that their contribution is recognised, and that they will not be left behind?
I would be willing to work with the Deputy across government to enhance the supports the LEOs have been offering to SMEs, the small family businesses that make up two thirds of all the employment across our country and drive so much of the economic activity in our communities. We are absolutely looking to enhance supports for them. The Minister of State, Deputy Alan Dillon, and I are doing a lot of work in relation to the LEOs, Enterprise Ireland and the service level agreement that pertains to both.
With regard to the midlands, I would point out that from quarter 3 of 2024 to quarter 3 of 2025, 3,900 new jobs were created in that locality. Critically, that means there are 3,900 families with an additional income that was not the case a year earlier.
On the broader spectrum, budget 2026 was an exclusively enterprise budget. That will fuel the engine for the years ahead to ensure we can do so many things for employees and tackle our infrastructural deficits in the coming years. That will be critical to the success of our economy.
