Questions

175. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the impact of fuel price increases on small rural machinery contractor enterprises. [30528/26]

178. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his views on whether small and medium-sized businesses are being hit hardest by rising fuel costs, particularly those in energy-intensive sectors such as retail and hospitality; the assistance he is providing in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30409/26]

179. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment following his announcement of a €100 million allocation to a new scaling fund for Irish SMEs, the way his Department believes this funding will enable Irish SMEs to grow domestically and also reach international markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30513/26]

187. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will consider establishing a small business ombudsman to provide a dedicated avenue for engagement between Government and small businesses (details supplied). [26724/26]

189. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the plans he has in place to help businesses cope with the cost impact of the US-Iran war; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30058/26]

206. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the way in which the SME test is being applied in practice to assess the impact of new legislation and regulations on business costs; if he will provide specific examples of legislation or policy proposals where the SME test has been used and influenced outcomes; and the way in which this information is being shared across Government. …

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]

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]

6. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the steps his Department is taking to support SMEs with rising delivery and postage costs, and the impact of those increased costs on their competitiveness and ability to do business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13367/26]

13. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his assessment of the impact of his Department’s SME test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13383/26]

76. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the measures his Department has put in place to assist SMEs with rising energy costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13384/26]

85. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of SMEs that have closed in County Meath in each of the past ten years. [12168/26]

88. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the immediate measures his Department is taking to mitigate the severe financial pressure on the small and medium enterprise sector following the cumulative impact of the national minimum wage increase to €14.15 and the commencement of the pension auto-enrolment scheme on 1 January 2026; if he will specifically address concerns fr…

284. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether his Department has conducted, commissioned or received any regulatory impact assessment, economic modelling or internal policy analysis since 1 January 2021 examining the cumulative administrative and compliance costs arising from customs declarations, tariff classification requirements, VAT registration obligations or brokerage…

285. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether his Department has estimated the average per-parcel administrative cost incurred by Irish SMEs exporting low-value consignments to (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the United States, including customs declarations, intermediary brokerage fees, VAT compliance and associated documentation; and if no such estimate has been undertaken…

286. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether his Department has engaged with the Revenue Commissioners regarding simplified customs procedures or reduced administrative burdens for micro-exporting SMEs reliant on parcel trade; the dates and nature of any such engagement; and whether specific policy proposals have been developed arising from those discussions [13708/26]

287. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether his Department holds data or has conducted analysis on the number or proportion of Irish SMEs for whom small-consignment parcel exports constitute their primary export channel; and if so, the findings of that analysis. [13709/26]

289. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether the forthcoming Enterprise 2035 strategy will contain specific measures aimed at reducing customs-related compliance costs for SMEs engaged in cross-border parcel trade; and if he will outline any draft policy proposals currently under consideration [13711/26]

57. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to set out his Department’s work on the programme for Government commitment to “support Irish SMEs to access the supply chains of large multinational companies that are based in Ireland”. [13297/26]

580. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the way the small business unit within his Department is delivering on its responsibilities; including implementing the SME test to ensure that the impact of new legislation and regulation on small businesses is fully assessed; overseeing the simplification of information and access to grants and supports through the National Enterpris…

123. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the measures currently in place within his Department to support small and medium-sized enterprises in Dublin Bay North facing rising operating costs, including energy, insurance and labour costs; the number of enterprises in the constituency that have accessed State supports administered by his Department or its agencies, in each of…

125. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will report on the impact of the SME test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1591/26]

152. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will report on the work of the Cost of Business Advisory Forum on a comprehensive review of the cost structure for SMEs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1534/26]

161. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the way in which his Department is supporting Irish SMEs looking to enter international markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66678/25]

170. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the measures his Department is taking to support SMEs facing persistently high energy costs, particularly in energy-intensive sectors such as hospitality and manufacturing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1339/26]