Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

Sorry, Deputy, the way this works is you ask seven questions in one and then I try to answer them.

In the budget, we did our best to respond to and support those businesses. I know how important tourism and hospitality are to Killarney and County Kerry. Even as recently as today, the Cabinet considered the detail of the €170 million power up scheme. Under this scheme, all retail and hospitality businesses that previously received an increased cost of business, ICOB, grant will receive a flat energy grant payment of €4,000 this year. I have no doubt the Deputy will actively help people in County Kerry to apply for that. He will be going into the shops, cafes and hotels and telling them to apply for it. It will be very easy to do so. If people already got the ICOB grant, they will be sent an email with a link they can click on to declare they are still in business and still paying rates. They will get the €4,000 before Christmas. That will make a big difference.

In addition to that grant, over the past six month, the ICOB scheme has paid out over €242 million to almost 75,000 small and medium businesses, including a double payment to 39,000 businesses that are either in hospitality or retail. By any objective and fair measure, this is an unprecedented level of intervention in the sector. It is the right thing to do, because these businesses are the backbone of our economy, but it is an unprecedented level of intervention.

I fully accept that there are real issues in regard to the cost base for hospitality businesses and small businesses in Ireland. The Minister, Deputy Burke, is considering how best we can review the impact of the range of costs that have, admittedly, come at small businesses at a very fast pace. On top of that, we announced a plan in the budget, under the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, for a national training fund. This will see up to €20 million available for businesses to upskill their staff, with €8 million targeted at small and medium businesses. I know there are small businesses in Kerry that will benefit directly from that in terms of not having to pay the training costs for their staff. We are able to do that to assist them.

On the issue of carers, I have already outlined a number of the measures we have taken. We intend to take more. The record of the Government is one of year-on-year increasing the financial supports available to carers and the number of carers who can access those supports. I accept there is more to do. That is the work of the working group, which will conclude this year.

On roads, our work continues. Indeed, I was with the Deputy very recently at the opening of the Listowel bypass.

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