Alan Dillon
Mayo · Fine Gael · Ireland
“Landlords are generally not in a position to supervise day-to-day waste management practices within occupied properties. The Government therefore has significant concerns regarding both the practicality and effectiveness of these provisions.”
“The Government has commissioned an independent study to examine the feasibility of moving Ireland's household waste collection system from the current side-by-side competition model to a franchise-based system. That study is examining the environmental, economic, operational and consumer implications of alternative market structures.”
“If the evidence supports significant changes to the market structure, the Government will consider those recommendations carefully. If the evidence suggests improvements can be achieved through strengthened regulation, enhanced enforcement or targeted reforms within the existing framework, those options should also be considered.”
“We also want to see a well-designed waste collection system that not only delivers environmental benefits but also provides householders with the opportunity to reduce their own household waste costs through reducing residual waste, correctly segregating recyclable materials and correctly segregating organic materials.”
“We have a lack of capacity so we need to continue that, and investment certainty is really important in that regard but also to enable Ireland to meet both our national and European obligations, which are far reaching. These will all benefit from a stable and predictable policy framework.”
“Ireland requires continued investment across the waste and resource sector. We need investment in collection infrastructure, recycling capacity, material recovery technologies, organic waste treatment, digital systems and innovation. Those making long-term investments require certainty regarding Government policy.”
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“Virgin Media has advised the Department that it has upgraded its services to over 700,000 premises with full broadband. The Department is continuing to monitor upgrades by commercial operators to ensure that any unnecessary barriers to the availability of high-speed fibre broadband are addressed and the risk of any gigabit service-challenged areas is managed. Information gathering and detailed analysis is ongoing with the operators and it is understood that a full-scale risk assessment will ensure that any potential gigabit challenges are addressed. These data will complement the initial analysis already conducted by the Department. The Department is working closely with the commercial operators in reviewing all of the scenarios that the Deputy has raised in regards to direct buried leads.”
“As part of the roll-out, the Government identified a need to deliver broadband services where commercial operators would not operate. National Broadband Ireland was appointed to deliver the wholesale broadband service to those parts of the country located in the intervention areas. Already, over 1.5 million homes have been passed across the State, and this will complement the Government's priority around the digital connectivity strategy, ensuring Ireland has a multitude of connectivity in regard to fixed-line operators while also delivering the plan for high-speed broadband services in the non-intervention areas. Actually, I want to correct that. In support of the national broadband plan, Eir has already passed over 1.5 million homes across the State. SIRO has reached a milestone of having passed over 700,000 premises for full broadband.”
“As one of the largest public investments in the State’s history, the national broadband plan is designed to address market failure, ensuring universal high-speed connectivity and supporting balanced economic growth, competitiveness and social inclusion across all regions. We are delivering strong progress on these challenging targets. Deployment momentum is strong and the main infrastructure build is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026, bringing the project in ahead of schedule and running under budget. In addition, commercial deployments have also advanced strongly, with the latest figures released from the regulator showing that 90% of premises now have access to gigabit connectivity, which is a significant increase of 32% since 2020.”
“I would like to thank Deputy O'Connell for providing a debate on this important Topical Issue. I welcome the opportunity to outline the position on behalf of the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport. As the Deputy has outlined, the national broadband plan, NBP, is the Government’s initiative to deliver high-speed broadband to every household, business and farm in Ireland, ensuring all premises in the country are covered by a gigabit network no later than 2028. It is the largest infrastructural project in rural Ireland since rural electrification, spanning 96% of Ireland's landmass. The NBP is delivering high-speed broadband to over 1.1 million people in more than 23% of premises in the State. This includes over 64,410 farms, 26,350 non-farm businesses, 693 schools and 27 islands and it is fast transforming those communities.”
“The issues at that time were very much focused on recruitment. There is an opportunity for further engagement on the extension of the retirement age that the Deputy is appealing for. How that can be supported, along with the adequate resourcing, is something that local authorities need to continue to review, ensuring that we have essential services delivered by firefighters, we have the infrastructure, training and equipment they need, and we have continuous investment into the sector. I will certainly take all of this back to the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, and I will ensure that the Deputy gets the relevant information following the discussion here today.”
“I agree with the sentiment and point she has raised. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for local government, whose remit it is to engage with local authorities as those acting as employers for firefighters. In other uniformed services, a request is sometimes made to, for example, the Garda Commissioner as regards gardaí who want to work for an extended period above the normal retirement age. I feel that this is something that could be looked at for the firefighters. It could be utilised, reflecting on the level of knowledge, skill and expertise many firefighters have and the need to hold that in their respective fire stations so as to train those who are new entrants or need years to build up that capacity. Notwithstanding that, the fire services had a significant campaign just two years ago.”
“Therefore, this Act excludes firefighters and other uniformed services. Given that this matter was addressed less than two years ago in consultation with staff representative bodies, the Department of housing has no plans to revisit this.”
“The Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, will act on the local authority's behalf in industrial relations matters in the normal way. Following a Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, agreement with retained firefighters in September 2023, approximately 630 new recruits have entered service as fire authorities implement the mandated minimum crew number of 12 in each fire station. This is in support of the revised model of service provision rostering week on, week flexibility and four weeks paid annual leave. I note that the recently enacted but not yet commenced Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Act 2025 does not apply to an employee whose employment is subject to the maximum retirement age required by law, at which the employee is obliged to retire or be retired.”
“The provision of fire services in a local authority's functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needed and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage supports fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters, and providing capital funding support for equipment and priority infrastructural projects. Engagement with staff-side associations, including on the mandatory retirement age and medical assessments, is a matter for each local authority as employer.”
“In 2024, the Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act amended the law in relation to the age at which certain public servants were required to retire. Part 11 of the Act provided that the then Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform could make orders enabling line Ministers - justice, defence and housing - to make regulations regarding the retirement age of uniformed services. Regulations were made in August 2024, with the consent of then Minister for public expenditure, raising the mandatory retirement age to 62.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising the issue and providing me with the opportunity to address it on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy John Cummins. The current mandatory retirement age of firefighters is 62, which was raised from 58 in 2024. It is the same for all uniformed services, including the Irish Prison Service, An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. A firefighter may retire upon attaining the minimum age of 55 years. If a firefighter wishes to serve beyond that age, the fire authority that employs them must satisfy themselves as to their medical fitness, having undergone the appropriate medical assessment. The firefighter may continue to serve while undergoing annual fitness tests but must retire on or before turning 62.”
“The bulk of dual-use items exported from Ireland, including those to Israel, are mainstream business ICT products such as software, hardware, networking, data storage and cybersecurity and have been categorised as so. We want to continue to support indigenous Irish companies. We see this Bill as an important vehicle for multinationals that are based here and IDA client companies to continue the good work they do and we look forward to progressing it through the House.”
“This Government has been very strong in upholding international law but we also ensure that each application is assessed individually, with detailed consideration of the nature of the items, the destination country, the identity of the end user, the intended end use and the potential misuse, using all reliable information available at the time from a range of different sources. That has to be factored in. All of this presents complex factors, which are considered in every application. If there are any concerns that goods exported will not be used for the specified end use or by specific end users, they will be detailed in the application. If the exporter does not provide enough information regarding the intended end use, our officials make an informed decision.”
“The Government has a regulatory and compliance framework for enterprises operating in the State and that is not affected by the deletion of this section. All existing checks and controls remain fully intact, including the EU regulation around the Control of Exports Act, the provisions of which are unaffected. We operate export licence applications. These are considered by our officials in accordance with criteria set out within the relevant dual use and military EU and national regulations and in line with Ireland's international obligations and responsibilities as a member of non-proliferation regimes and export controls remit. That is an important point with regard to Deputy Boyd Barrett's accusation that we are in some way complicit in the ongoing genocide in Palestine.”
“It does not impact the activities of enterprises themselves as activities in this sphere are controlled by a comprehensive, multilayered framework involving primary and secondary legislation under the Control of Exports Act 2023 and Ireland's obligations under international treaties, including in relation to human rights. Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland are subject to overarching Government policy, ministerial policy direction and strict internal governance and compliance standards. It is very important to emphasise this because I have heard Deputies, including Deputy Boyd Barrett, make assertions regarding "sinisterism" and the charge that we tried to smuggle this into the Bill. This could not be further from the truth.”
“For this Government, it is about ensuring that we can maximise funds from European programmes, such as the forthcoming European competitiveness fund. It is about ensuring Ireland benefits from this. Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland must be able to engage confidently with potential partners, with companies and consortia operating in this sphere. If we do not do that, someone else will. These amendments in the Bill provide the clarity that is required for agencies to participate fully and appropriately in these programmes, supporting Irish researchers, supporting small to medium enterprises right throughout our country, and also ensuring the multinational firms that want to collaborate with the innovation, defence, security and resilience fields can actually do so. That is a good thing and one that would be welcomed.”
“They have become increasingly clear, given the extraordinary budget allocations for security, at national and European level. Looking at the challenges we face with regard to moving the level of ambition within our Defence Forces to the next level, significant investment will be required and it is against this backdrop that it is time to replace that blanket constraint. What we are focused on doing is providing this amendment, which solely relates to the functions of enterprise agencies and their capacity to support Ireland's strategic objectives. It will allow the agencies to support, financially or non-financially, enterprises in the defence, security and resilience sphere, like other parts of our economy, but importantly it is subject to compliance with all existing controls and legal obligations governing these sectors.”
“That is very much evident in its strategic plans and we can see that magnified in every corner of this country with some property banks, but also with advanced building solutions being developed and have been developed to meet client demand and support regional needs. The Bill streamlines the ability of the agencies to support defence, security and resilience. In summary, it is designed to drive investment and support innovation in areas that are strategically critical for Ireland. Many Deputies raised concerns about the general scheme of the Bill that was published and approved in February of 2025. Over the past year, we have witnessed the growing challenges but also the opportunities in areas of our economy that are related to defence, security and resilience.”
“I thank the Deputies for their contributions and for their constructive and useful feedback, which I certainly welcome. Many supported the broad thrust of the Bill and its underlying objectives. The Bill will further enhance the ability of the enterprise development agencies, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, to drive investment and employment across the country. It will also ensure the enterprise agencies have the legislative tools they will need to incentivise companies to accelerate their green and digital transitions. It will allow IDA Ireland to further enhance its property and infrastructure offerings. A key element of that will be supporting regional, balanced development.”
“However, with the new PPWR, there is an opportunity to reduce unnecessary packaging, increase demand for recycling content and create a stronger and more stable market for recyclate. That is what we all want to achieve. We want to give certainty to investors, allow for multi-year funding commitments and support large-scale investment in waste infrastructure, including advanced sorting and recovery facilities. We will see the new EU regulation, national policy and EPR funding all being aligned and put in the same direction. That will increase recycling rates and reduce incineration, while also keeping valuable materials in circulation within the economy.”
“Again, I acknowledge Senator Noonan's questions and I understand the urgency in regard to investment in critical infrastructure. However, any proposal for direct public investment in sorting technology would need to be evidence based. It would also need to be costed and justified, given the sector involves a large number of commercially operated firms. We would have to understand that where there is clear market failure, the absence of the EPR-funded investment alone is insufficient. That is why we want many of the EPR operators to work with the sectors on how we can continue to deliver measurable improvements in recycling outcomes. That is where we want to get to in achieving the targets, which have been challenging in recent years, to say the least.”
“That is being worked on and I am being briefed as regards when it will be published in the coming months, if not weeks. While I cannot today announce any specific start date for any State-funded sorting technology, the policy framework is very clear. We have the regulatory signals with regard to the EPR schemes now in place. Even with the likes of Repak, we have extended it to a ten-year duration, which gives certainty to the sector that it can invest in that type of technology and align exactly with the type of investment the Senator outlined earlier.”
“This work is under way and the national waste management plan, NWMP, which was published in 2024 by the regional waste management planning offices, set out specific actions to address gaps in domestic waste treatment infrastructure, including improved sorting and recovery capacity. In parallel, the extended producer responsibility schemes operated under the polluter pays principle have a key role in funding and supporting investment that improves recycling outcomes. The update on the action plan for the circular economy will commence in 2026. This will align with the most recently published circular economy strategy for 2026 to 2028, which was published in March. This updated plan will set the direction of infrastructure needs, including how we increase the capture of recyclable materials and reduce our reliance on incineration.”
“Indeed, I had the opportunity when I took up the role of Minister of State for the circular economy to visit many of these processing plants, such as Panda and Thorntons, which take in a huge amount of municipal waste and are investing heavily in their systems. The role of my Department is different but crucial. Under the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, WAPCE, our job is to set the policy direction while strengthening regulation and ensuring the right conditions are in place so that the recyclable materials are captured here in Ireland and not lost to incineration or export.”
“I thank Senator Noonan for raising this issue because it goes to the heart of how we are moving from simply managing waste to genuinely valuing materials. I will start with an important point for the House, which is that waste collection and waste treatment in Ireland are almost entirely operated by private companies under permits and licences issued by local authorities and the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. This includes our material recovery facilities, MRFs. When we talk about additional investment in advanced sorting technology, the primary responsibility lies with the waste industry itself. However, I acknowledge that the industry is already progressing a number of investment proposals, some of them in partnership with the extended producer responsibility schemes.”
“As I said, the retail crime strategy is being worked through at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. It is being led out by the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan. I have had extensive engagement with him and his officials. We have held a round-table meeting with many retailers, who were representatives of the retail forum. We want to ensure that strategy has concrete interventions and that these can be delivered within the term of the Government. It is a programme for Government commitment. We want to see this being worked through and we will, within the Department of enterprise, continue to support that over the months ahead.”
“I thank the Deputy for his contribution. All retail workers deserve to go to work without fear and business owners deserve the protections of the livelihoods they have built. That is why we are very much focused on the retail crime strategy. It is well advanced and will include specific, targeted measures including prevention, enforcement and support for affected businesses. Operationally, An Garda Síochána has rolled out Operation Táirge, which has been successful. We have seen more disruption, arrests and prosecutions in many crime black spots, but we need to continue to redouble our efforts because retail crime needs to be confronted. It cannot be normalised and we need to work with retailers and their employees to ensure it is stamped out for good.”
“From my Department's perspective, we are also acting to support retailers through enterprise supports. We will establish access to grants and have engagement on insurance and regulatory burdens, but that will be done through the cost of doing business advisory forum. We will continue to work on this matter and shortly will have the publication of the action plan on retail crime.”
“The programme for Government makes an explicit a commitment on retail crime, including the development of the retail crime strategy, which is being led by my colleague the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, in the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. Over the past years, we have met officials from both Departments and have engaged extensively with retailers and representative bodies at the retail forum to understand at first hand the scale, patterns and consequences of retail crime. Operationally, An Garda Síochána has established Operation Táirge to specifically target organised retail crime and Garda management has briefed the retail forum on its progress. I welcome the strong focus on intelligence-led enforcement but also the increased visibility of Garda members in crime black spots and the disruption of repeat offenders.”
“I thank the Deputy for his question. The Government fully recognises the significant harm caused by retail crime, which not only impacts retailers and retail employees but also has broader consequences for local communities and the national economy. Theft, organised shoplifting and associated antisocial behaviour are not victimless crimes and directly affect businesses' viability, staff safety and community confidence. I am acutely aware retailers are facing real financial losses, including rising insurance and security costs, and have deep concerns around the personal safety of staff, many of whom are working alone or at late hours. For small independent retailers in particular, a single incident can have a real impact on weekly profits, or worse. The issue is being taken very seriously by the Government.”
“That is why the Tánaiste is working through the Department of Finance in looking at hybrid heat recovery pumps, hydrotreated vegetable oil, HVO, and other energy efficiency measures to reduce that burden either through tax measures or through grant supports and subsidies. They will have a meaningful impact for businesses across the country.”
“I expect that would be the approach for many Department officials with regard to trying to get this up and running. Looking at the more structural interventions we need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, we are looking at a large investment, through price review 6, PR6, into the grid and infrastructure, in ESB Networks and EirGrid. That will ensure we have the renewable energy deployment required right across the country, that we have energy efficiency supports and that we are looking at large-scale industrial decarbonisation. That is backed by over €300 million in environmental aid. We all know we cannot continue to go from shock to shock and not build resilience into businesses.”
“I certainly disagree that SMEs are being left behind. This is one of the most substantial packages across the European Union. It is all about supporting jobs and those who are most impacted but also ensuring they can absorb some of the cost increases that they are facing. We cannot cushion all the price increases. There is a reality here that many governments are trying to grapple with. A sum of €750 million is really substantial. The Minister, Deputy Heydon, met many of the pillar banks as recently as last week, advising them that these schemes are in place and that they would provide working capital to many of these businesses in the short term until they get this money into their bank account. That was received well. We want the scheme to be simple in nature. We are all about simplification and being fast and agile.”
“This is targeted, evidence-based and an intervention that the Government wants to continue, and we are not finished there yet.”
“If we take transport SMEs - our bus operators and haulage companies – they will receive direct fuel-linked supports because fuel makes up a huge proportion of their costs and they have felt disproportionate increases. Agricultural contractors are also receiving monthly targeted payments because they are exposed during seasonal periods. That is very important. Many businesses in retail and hospitality will see energy relief in terms of their distribution and they will have a significant VAT reduction to 9% on 1 July. We want to continue to ensure that businesses are supported. Notwithstanding this, there is not a one-size-fits-all list of measures that the Government can introduce. The package currently stands at €750 million to support jobs, communities and SMEs right across sectors.”
“I thank the Deputies for their questions and contributions. I and my colleagues in the Department of enterprise have placed SMEs in all sectors front and centre. They are not being left behind. We fully understand the cost pressures many of them face. The memo the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, brought to Cabinet today was supported right across the Government. It outlined the types of measures that will be introduced over the weeks ahead. There are other specific measures within the construction industry. The sector was referenced today at Cabinet and more needs to be done for it. On what we are doing and have done, we outlined the assessment that was made precisely to support those sectors that needed the intervention.”
“It has been a barrier for many businesses to obtain the right finance to make these upgrades. The growth and sustainability loan scheme provides long-term, low-cost lending of up to €3 million, giving SMEs the capacity to manage shocks and invest through them. These immediate supports are also being reinforced through structural reform. I outlined earlier that the cost of doing business advisory forum is now finalising its report, which has been brought by SMEs, regulators and Departments through a policy process identifying real cost drivers and also outlining practical solutions and recommendations. While introducing immediate relief, we continue to monitor sharp rises in cost pressures to ensure that SMEs, jobs and our communities are protected in these uncertain times.”
“We recognise that some sectors also need more than just price relief. For this reason, we have introduced and increased the diesel rebate scheme to 12 cent per litre. We have also established a new road transporter's support scheme, with direct payments for haulage and coach operators, which will cost up to €40 million per month over the next three months. We have also introduced a €100 million fuel subsidy support scheme to assist farmers, contractors and fishers during peak fuel-use months. At the same time, the Government is looking at the structural costs to reduce further exposure altogether. This is being done through SEAI supports for businesses, which are being helped to cut energy demand permanently through audits, upgrades, renewable heat and microgeneration. Access to finance is also critical.”
“These costs hit hardest during peak seasonal activities. In construction fuel and energy costs are embedded in materials, logistics and machinery use. The impact here is real and can be built up over time. Beyond that, retail and hospitality SMEs are also facing sharp increases in energy bills that cannot simply be passed on without rising costs on competitiveness. This assessment has shaped a targeted Government response. Over March and April, we have introduced a substantial package of fuel supports, including VAT-inclusive reductions of 32 cent on the price of a litre of diesel, 27 cent on the price of petrol and 7.4 cent on a litre of green diesel. This is alongside a reduction on the NORA levy. Crucially, we have also deferred the planned carbon tax increase, providing immediate breathing space at a time of exceptional volatility.”
“I propose to take Questions Nos 130 and 134 together. As the Deputy said, the Government is under no illusion about the seriousness of the fuel price shock facing small- and medium-sized enterprises. We recognise that for many businesses fuel and energy are not optional costs. They are a core input that determine whether a business survives or fails. The Department has carried out a detailed sector-by-sector assessment and the evidence is clear that the impact is uneven but acute in particular sectors. In transport and haulage fuel is a direct and immediate cost and price spikes feed straight into cashflow threatening viability, particularly for small operators with limited margins. The agriculture and agrifood sector faces double exposure, with fuel and fertiliser costs along with transport and processing pressures.”
“On regulation as well, we have established the small business unit within our Department. That is about the thinking small business first principle, which is what we want to do. We have introduced the SME test within the Cabinet handbook. This is very much focused on assessing before approval the regulatory impact on small businesses of any new policy or legislation that comes forward.”
“We are actively engaging with the retailers and the representative organisations. That is crucial. The charge may be that we are not listening, but we are listening. I think that is an important starting point. The Deputy hit the nail on the head when he said we want to have less talk and more action. This is exactly what we are looking to do, focusing on delivery. We want to ensure that the grants around green for business, digitalisation and energy reductions, working with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, are targeting businesses and reducing their energy dependency. This is something we are talking to the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, about, and the energy affordability task force will look at the structural costs around energy for businesses.”
“We want to look at the situation structurally and see where we can identify cost pressures and alleviate many of them to ensure the viability of businesses.”
“I understand the concern raised by the Deputy, and I certainly do not underestimate the challenges many retail businesses face. That is why we have undertaken interventions in March and April in regard to the ongoing energy crisis we face. We have also looked at VAT changes, which will be introduced in July of this year, in respect of many cafés and small coffee shops. We have also looked at the targeted grants for local enterprise offices around cost reduction and digital adaptation. This is important. As I said earlier, we want to ensure that many retailers have consistency around cost certainty, simplification and where we can inform policy and inform regulators in regard to challenges or burdens being placed on retailers. This is why that exercise within the forum is not a box-ticking exercise.”
“Most of those focused on planning, insurance, infrastructure, water services and wastewater and legal costs. We want real outcomes from this forum. The last meeting was only held last week. It was attended by the Minister and the two Ministers of State here, given the political commitment we have to try to support the retail sector.”
“As I said earlier, we are looking to identify practical actions that could be taken by the Government, or by industry itself, to support the sector, with particular emphasis on achieving sustainable jobs growth in the sector. The last meeting of the retail forum took place on 3 March. The topics discussed included retail crime, the deposit return scheme, environmental levies on single-use disposable cups and the national minimum wage. The Deputy might be aware that the cost of doing business advisory forum has been established. It will look at the inherent costs for many retailers who are finding it challenging in regard to the increase in labour, insurance and energy costs impacting them. Over the last eight weeks, we have met regarding the various thematic areas of concern.”
“I thank the Deputy for his question. The Government acknowledges the enormous contribution of the retail sector to our economy in every city, town and village in Ireland. It plays an important role in employment, with over 220,000 people directly employed in retail. As I said in response to the previous Deputy, I meet quarterly with the retail representative bodies for all retailers right across the country. The Minister, Deputy Burke, and I are aware of the issues facing retailers. In addition, during the recent fuel price disruptions, officials in my Department engaged with the main multiple grocery retailers and focused on the impact on issues such as distribution, supply and home deliveries.”
“That is why Enterprise Ireland is looking at its own structures and trying to create a centre of excellence that will have more broad outreach to those businesses because they are Irish businesses creating vital employment in our local areas. Indeed, they may not want grants available through the local enterprise offices but it is a case of how we can support them in different ways, such as through mentoring and expert advice. Can they become the next company that has export potential? It is about building that leadership capability within those companies as well.”
“I thank the Deputy again for her question and response. The Minister and I chair the retail forum and the enterprise forum. We also co-chair the Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF, dealing with employers and employees. We try to gauge the feedback regarding where supports are required and how we can actually look at this, not just in the short term but also the long term, and the structural needs of many businesses. That is why, as I said earlier, the local enterprise office is the first port of call for somebody starting a new business but we do also identify there are many businesses that fall through the cracks and who are not being supported by the local enterprise office. We need to bring them in.”
“Notwithstanding that there has been a good uptake in grants in Mayo, are they being measured through an additional employee or are they building resilience into the businesses that are currently operating? That is really what we want to hear for businesses.”