Small and Medium Enterprises
Dail Éireann — 2026-02-19
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Tony McCormack (FF), Offaly

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.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-02-19/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:40+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-19