Martin Ferris
Question:13. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the inititives that will be undertaken to stem the collapse within the retail trade here. [9068/13]
View answerThursday, 21 February 2013
Questions (13, 33, 46)
Michael McGrath
Question:33. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if, in view of the difficulties of retailers across the country, he will examine the problems facing the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9077/13]
View answer
Niall Collins
Question:46. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the way he will assist the retail sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9092/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 33 and 46 together.
The Government recognises the importance of the retail sector to Ireland’s economy. It is employment-intensive, and covers every community in the country. The combined wholesale and retail sector employs almost 273,000 people in Ireland – that is almost 15% of our total workforce.
In recognising the importance of the sector to the economy, the 2012 Action Plan for Jobs contained a number of measures which support the retail sector directly. These actions, for delivery across a number of Departments and agencies, included:
- a renewed focus on prompt payments;
- the provision of support to retail firms seeking to internationalise;
- the provision of funding for the up-skilling of workers in the sector; and
- reform of the statutory wage setting mechanisms.
Other important changes which we have delivered and which will help the retail sector include improving access to finance, including through the temporary Partial Loan Guarantee scheme and the Microfinance Fund, and the extension of the Seed Capital Scheme and the Employment and Investment Incentive Scheme to the retail sector. Introducing a lower rate of VAT on certain goods and services, halving the lower rate of employers’ PRSI, and the freezing or reducing of the Annual Rate of Valuation by all but one Local Authority in 2012 should also help to ease the pressure on the sector.
I will announce further measures to assist the retail sector in the 2013 Action Plan for Jobs, which will be launched in the coming days. These will include initiatives to encourage more retailers to trade online, the establishment of a single web portal for business licences applications, and other general measures to improve cost competitiveness.
The Government will continue to explore further measures that can be taken to support the retail sector. I frequently meet with representatives of the sector to hear the challenges they face. These engagements have assisted me in formulating the measures which will be included in the forthcoming Action Plan for Jobs.