Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2020
132. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Finance if research has been undertaken on the level of indebtedness among small and medium-sized businesses at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11513/20]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the Department of Finance undertakes a biannual SME Credit Demand Survey that monitors SME credit demand and related issues. The results from this survey have shown that the number of SMEs with no debt has increased in recent years. The latest results, in respect of the period April 2019 to September 2019, shows that 55% of SMEs surveyed reported they had no bank debt which compares to 25% of SMEs that reported having no debt in the six month period up to September 2012. Officials in the Department are currently preparing to undertake the next iteration of the Credit Demand survey, which will track any changes to, inter alia, credit demand and debt levels of Irish SMEs.
