Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 April 2024
104. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses in counties Kildare, Wicklow, Meath and Louth, respectively, that have registered for the increased cost of business grant to date; when payments under the grant will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16883/24]
View answerAs you will be aware, as part of Budget 2024, the Government signed off on a package of €257 million for the Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) grant as a vital measure for small and medium businesses.
Local Authorities, funded through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, are administering the grant to qualifying businesses on behalf of the Department.
Local Authorities have written to all rate paying businesses with details of how to register for the grant and it is a very simple process for businesses to verify their details through an online portal.
The grant has been open for registrations since 14 March. The closing date for registrations for the ICOB grant is 1 May 2024. I urge all eligible businesses to register for this grant as soon as they receive a letter from their Local Authority. The sooner a business registers the sooner their details will be verified and the grant will be paid out. Local Authorities will begin to send payments to eligible businesses from Monday next 22 April.
In relation to the uptake of the scheme in the counties referred to in the question, the latest figures as at Tuesday 16th April are as follows:
Kildare has 1320 registrations which is 26% of businesses notified
Wicklow has 1104 registrations which is 36% of businesses notified
Meath has 1181 registrations which is 32% of businesses notified
Louth has 959 registrations which is 31% of businesses notified
