Legislative Reviews
123. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department intends to review legislation on remote working arrangements in the context of the current fuel crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30948/26]
My question is in light of the current fuel crisis, which there is no sign will end any time soon.
I thank the Deputy for her question.
There has been a significant and lasting shift in attitudes towards remote working in recent years. Central Statistics Office data show that nearly 1 million people were working from home, either usually or sometimes, in the fourth quarter of 2025 and that figure has remained broadly stable since the pandemic.
The national remote work strategy and Our Rural Future highlight the role remote working can play in expanding employment opportunities outside Ireland’s largest urban centres. The 2025 programme for Government reaffirms our commitment to this and recognises that flexible working arrangements can deliver economic, social and environmental benefits for workers and employers. Ireland was among the first in the EU to introduce a right to request remote working and this was commenced for all workers through the Work Life Balance Act 2024. The legislation is accompanied by a code of practice that provides guidance for employers and employees on how to comply with the legislation.
My Department recently concluded a statutory review of the operation of the right to request remote working legislation and a report of the review was laid before the Houses in early March. The findings of the review were informed by a nationally representative survey, a public consultation that received more than 8,000 responses and engagement with the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC. The review found that, when used, the legislation works effectively and that the majority of requests are approved either fully or partially, demonstrating that the legislation can facilitate compromise. The reported level of administrative burden is also low.
However, the key findings also looked at the challenges around awareness, with fewer than half of employees being aware of their right to request remote working. As with Ireland’s broader suite of employment legislation, the legislation will be kept under ongoing review. However, providing a right to request strikes the right balance between flexibility and the need for businesses to remain competitive, profitable and viable.
I thank the Minister of State. I apologise. I forgot to thank Deputy Conway-Walsh for facilitating my going first.
I heard similar words from the Minister of State's colleague a short while ago when we were discussing the strengthening of workers' rights under the Sinn Féin motion and it rings hollow, I am afraid. What we know about and what we have seen is just headline after headline about people being called back into the workplace.
People are dealing with a cost-of-living crisis and now a fuel crisis and there are ways we can respond to that as a society. During the Covid-19 pandemic, remote working became something that worked for people. Yet, since then, we have seen it rolled back again and again. I literally just got a ping on my phone while I was sitting here, which was a headline published by thejournal.ie two hours ago about Aer Lingus calling its staff back four days per week. The Minister of State's numbers do not paint the actual picture. The 94%, which is a great result, applies to 70 application since 2024. Awareness raising is not the only answer. There are a lot more reasons people are not using this system. It is not simply because they do not know about it.
The fuel crisis is exactly why flexibility matters. It is exactly why we introduced this legislation and, where remote or blended working is feasible, it can immediately reduce the cost of commuting and mean lower household expenses. It can also ease pressure on workers. We have put the legislative framework in place. It is already in use. It has been very beneficial to those who use it. At the same time, we have also introduced packages to support workers with energy costs.
Remote working is part of the solution but it is not the only solution the Government has introduced to deal with the cost-of-energy crisis. Our approach is focused on the fact there are different realities in different workplaces. Not all jobs can be done remotely. While we are supporting workers, we are also ensuring business needs are met through challenging periods. That is really our focus as regards the right to request remote working.
Essentially, what I am hearing is that the Government responded, it built a solution that is working and that there is nothing to see here. I am saying it is not working. I looked at the report by the Department. Although its conclusion states everything is working, which is what we heard again today numerous times, a few pages earlier it talks about the toothless tiger critique and states: "The qualitative findings clarify that this is not a vague or general complaint, but a specific and targeted critique of the perceived power imbalance within the current framework." That is my issue. It is laid upon a situation where we do not have collective bargaining so people are not coming forward to exercise their right to request remote working. They have no power to push back against multinational corporations, which at a whim can decide they want people to work two, three, four or five days in the office. That is the issue. Workers have no strength and the legislation does not help that in any way whatsoever.
We could be leaders in this. That is what kills me most. The Government tries to tell us we are leaders in the technology space. We could be leaders in this, by tapping into this technology and setting the trend for what we should be doing in facilitating remote working to deal with crises right now.
The numbers speak for themselves. Close to 1 million people work remotely in either blended or hybrid models. That is the reality. The shift since the Covid-19 pandemic has been enormous. It has been supported by the Government through the national remote working strategy. We have continued to roll out the national broadband plan, which will reach more than 1.1 million people in the most rural areas. That allows them to bridge the gap between jobs for which they might have to relocate to cities and jobs they can do at home.
The Government has gone even further. We have legislated for the right to disconnect. The national hubs network has more than 400 remote working hubs nationwide and more than €3 billion has been invested in high-speed broadband. That very much re-emphasises the Government's priority, which is to make sure remote working works for everyone and that those who want to work remotely have the legislative framework and code of practice under the WRC.
Business Supports
121. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the measures his Department is taking to address the increasing number of shop closures in towns and villages across the State contributing to growing levels of dereliction; to detail any current or planned initiatives aimed at supporting small and independent retailers in rural and regional areas, including financial supports, rates relief or targeted regeneration schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30924/26]
Towns and villages up and down the country are suffering from dereliction. Vacant and boarded up shops are all too common now in once vibrant communities and towns. Once thriving businesses, which employed local people have been replaced by empty units, a visible reminder that the Government is failing our SME sector. What new initiatives does the Minister plan to introduce to tackle this escalating problem given current solutions are not working?
I thank the Deputy for the question. It is very important that we all acknowledge the importance of having vibrant towns and villages and that local shops and the retail sector are an important part of achieving that aim. The retail sector provides highly important employment, with over 220,000 people directly employed in retail, contributing to the economy of every city, town and village in Ireland.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht developed the town centre first policy, which was launched in 2022. This is a major cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. In March, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne, launched the vacant over-the-shop grant, which will provide funding of up to €135,000 to support bringing above-the-shop vacant spaces into residential use where the commercial element is remaining. This grant is one of a number of measures, including a targeted top-up of the vacant property refurbishment grant and the expert advice grant, aimed at unlocking unused spaces in cities, towns and villages by converting vacant and derelict buildings and unused above-the-shop areas into residential homes.
The retail forum allows key issues of relevance to the retail sector to be discussed with a view to identifying practical actions which 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 work of the forum is driven by its members and the issues that they have identified as being critical to examine to support sustainable jobs growth in the retail sector.
A broad range of supports for the retail sector, including training programmes and funding to help retailers adapt to new challenges and opportunities in retail, can be found on the national enterprise hub at www.neh.ie. This all-of-government service, staffed by expertly trained advisers, is focused on helping businesses to access a range of Government supports.
The Minister's policies are not hitting the ground because towns and villages are hollowing out, with visible increases in vacancy and dereliction and declining footfall. Small and independent retailers, particularly in rural and regional areas, are facing unsustainable cost pressures. We know that rising costs in energy, insurance, rents and commercial rates are disproportionately impacting small businesses compared to the larger multinationals. The Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, who is beside the Minister will know what I am talking about when I say that I walked down the street in Castlebar last week and saw a number of businesses closed. He knows that businesses that have been there for years, if not generations, are gone and those units are now empty. That is exactly what I am talking about. We need action to be able to ensure that those units are full. We need to work to make sure they do not close down in the first place but, if they do, that they are quickly repaired and reoccupied. I am also concerned about towns like Belmullet where shop units are being taken over for residential development in the middle of the town. I am worried about where towns are going when we do not have businesses in them.
The town centre first policy has 33 actions right across government to enhance our town centres and villages. It is from the ground up and is community-led, to really accelerate those resources. The grant that I referenced of €135,000 will be of assistance in bringing on accommodation over the shop. We established our small business unit within the Department just a year ago and it has introduced a number of supports which are really targeted at our small business sector. As evidenced by Central Statistics Office data, all 13 sectors in our economy are now growing. There are challenges in town centres and that is why these grants are specifically targeted to bring them back to life. We can see the direct results of that, as well as through the croí cónaithe initiative, which is bringing homes back into use and accommodation over the shop. That will be a big asset.
We have a cost-of-business advisory forum, which is due to report in the coming weeks. That will look at business costs and how we can reach a position where we are taking less money from businesses by reducing their utility costs and growing their revenue, which is key to keeping them sustainable.
What the Government is doing is not working because vacancy rates in many towns are persistently high or rising, particularly outside the major urban areas. According to the GeoDirectory commercial buildings report prepared by EY in February, the national commercial vacancy rate in Ireland increased to 14.6% by the end of 2025. This is the highest rate recorded by GeoDirectory since it began tracking commercial vacancy data in 2013. In total, there were 30,687 vacant commercial units across the country in the fourth quarter of 2025. If what the Minister has outlined was working, this would not be the case. Fourteen counties experienced an increase in vacancy rates, with Sligo recording the highest commercial vacancy rate. Dereliction is not just an aesthetic issue. It affects the local economy and tourism and the existing supports clearly are not working.
I would argue that we have a number of new schemes, particularly the one announced this month, which will make a difference to dereliction and reduce costs for businesses. We know from the evidence that traditional retail and hospitality are under significant pressure due to costs. What I have tried to do in the Department is bring about significant simplification measures. I have also tried to get additional grants in to small family businesses, which provide two thirds of employment across our economy. We can see that through our energy efficiency grant which reduces costs, or grants for growing their digital platform. We are very fixated on doing that.
New changes were also made by the Department of Finance in relation to dereliction, going through the Revenue Commissioners. That will involve a carrot-and-stick approach. We now have very significant grants, on the positive side, but the Government has also demonstrated that it will take action if properties are not brought back into use, particularly when we have a housing challenge. It is important that we see conversion rates increase and the policy balance that we have now will achieve that.
122. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the additional measures he will put in place to support small and medium-sized enterprises facing increased operating costs arising from the ongoing fuel crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30925/26]
I should not need to tell the Minister that businesses up and down this country are really suffering from an energy crisis that the Tánaiste and the Minister's party leader have acknowledged is the worst the world has ever seen. Yet, in the eyes of business owners, the scale of the supports from the Government do not match the scale of the crisis. What additional new measures will the Government put in place to support all businesses facing increased operating costs arising from the ongoing fuel crisis caused by the US-Israeli war in Iran?
I thank the Deputy for her question. The Government understands the pressures that rising fuel and energy costs are placing on small and medium enterprises, SMEs. These are not abstract figures. These are family businesses, local employers and community anchors in every town and village across our country. That is why the Government has acted quickly, decisively and in a targeted way. In March and April, we introduced a substantial package of fuel supports to the tune of €750 million to cushion businesses against the current fuel shocks. These include VAT inclusive reductions of up to 32 cent on diesel, 27 cent on petrol and 7.4 cent on green diesel, alongside a reduction in the NORA levy and the deferral of planned carbon tax increases until budget time. This is immediate, real relief at the pumps for businesses that cannot pass these costs on.
However, we did not stop there. We also strengthened sector-specific supports where fuel is a non-negotiable input. These include an increase in the diesel rebate scheme, rising to 12 cent per litre; a new road transporter's support scheme for haulage and coach operators; and €100 million for a fuel subsidy support scheme for our farmers, contractors and fishers during peak fuel use months. These are targeted interventions. At the same time, we are backing SMEs to reduce their dependency on volatile fuel markets through SEAI grants, energy audits, business energy upgrades and supports for microgeneration. Firms are being helped to permanently reduce their operating costs.
We are also ensuring access to finance through the growth and sustainability loan scheme, offering long-term, low-cost loans of up to €3 million. Finally, we are also tackling cost pressures structurally through the action plan on competitiveness and productivity and the cost of doing business advisory forum.
Business owners are begging for supports. Many of them joined the recent fuel protests as a last resort, just to have their voices heard. This comes in the context of the Government's spring economic statement, which predicts a surplus of €9.2 billion for this year, up from the €5.1 billion predicted on budget day.
Many of the businesses we are talking about have contributed substantially to that figure. Small- and medium-sized enterprises are the backbone of our economy. They sustain local communities, especially in rural areas like Mayo. Half-measures and piecemeal offerings so far have barely scratched the surface and not provided meaningful relief for SMEs. I put forward some suggestions recently to the Minister regarding more flexible payment options for grants administered by his Department, including upfront payments or staged instalments, rather than reimbursement as a lump sum after works have been carried out, but he rejected that proposal. I also suggested increasing the energy-efficiency grant from 75% to 100% for eligible costs to help businesses to decrease energy costs in the long term.
I thank the Deputy. I respect the concerns that she has raised, but do not accept the suggestion that we are leaving SMEs behind. Sinn Féin's talk around spending vast and wide in regard to budget surpluses is irresponsible. We have surpluses on the back of prudent and careful management of our economy. SMEs have been the beneficiaries in regard to the resources that we have at our disposal in recent weeks. These are designed precisely at a moment when our SMEs are exposed to fuel shocks at this magnitude. That is why we have ensured that we have seen reductions immediately at the pumps. We also have targeted schemes for transport operators, for agriculture, fisheries and contractors and SMEs dotted across our rural communities and across the country who need targeted supports at the most critical time of the season when they are very busy and have huge fuel consumption. We have put a real package of substance together to deal with the immediacy and the urgency in the here and now.
The Minister of State may thank the protestors for anything that has been put in place. The proposals I presented to the Minister of State earlier would encourage greater uptake of the grants and secure the futures of many SMEs, but he has refused to take those on board. I want to talk about it in the context of tourism. Tourism is the heartbeat of many Irish communities, especially in rural communities that depend on visitors to sustain local economies and jobs. As a rural TD, I can tell the Minister of State that public transport, as he will know, is scarce. Tourists rely on private bus operators to bring them to towns along the Wild Atlantic Way. For example, hospitality providers are worried that spiralling fuel costs will make these trips unviable for operators or that they will become so expensive that tourists simply will not come. Higher fares mean fewer visitors, and fewer visitors mean fewer jobs. If the routes are cut, rural Ireland pays the price. The Government should be doing all it can to ensure this will not materialise.
I reassure all our transport operators that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, along with the Government, have introduced a substantial package of over €40 million a month to support our transport services, coach operators and haulage contractors. As someone who knows the importance of tourism in County Mayo, I look forward to Friday's launch of the Wild Mayo tourism strategy, which has a firm focus in regard to north Mayo and Achill Island. These are gems on the Wild Atlantic Way that we need to continue to promote and invest in. The Minister, Deputy Burke, has been working actively with Fáilte Ireland to drive our tourism programme to increase our visitor numbers because we know how vital it is to support more than 5,500 jobs locally. It also benefits the local economy to the tune of over €250 million. That is why we have introduced A New Era for Irish Tourism, which is a five-year strategy that is backed with real money through a capital programme.
Departmental Policies
124. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the measurable improvements in national competitiveness that have been achieved since the publication of the Government’s Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30926/26]
We are constantly dealing with the growing challenge of improving Ireland's competitiveness. While our economy, on paper, seems strong, there are clear and persistent structural weaknesses that are undermining our ability to sustain growth to attract investment and support our people. Last September, we received the Government's Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity, which contains 85 actions. Since the publication of this action plan, can the Minister report any measurable improvements to our national competitiveness?
The preparation of the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity, which was published on 10 September 2025, was a commitment under the programme for Government. Its delivery was expedited in response to international economic developments. The overarching objective of the action plan is to maintain and improve Ireland's position as a competitive and productive economy capable of withstanding shocks, building on our strengths and developing our indigenous enterprise base while continuing to attract investment and talent from abroad.
Ireland holds a strong competitive position globally. This is reflected in our current position as the seventh most competitive country worldwide in the latest IMD world competitiveness rankings 2025. Among EU member states, Ireland ranks second. The next update to these rankings is expected to be published in June 2026. I am pleased to report that the implementation of the action plan is well under way. Currently, the vast majority of actions are regarded as in progress. A number of key actions from the action plan have already been delivered or are due for completion in the coming months. The next progress update on the implementation of the action plan will be discussed as part of the Government’s annual competitiveness summit in July 2026, with a first implementation report to be submitted for discussion at the summit.
Monitoring the success of this action plan will operate across two distinct but complementary dimensions. The first focuses on practical delivery, tracking the timely and effective implementation of specific actions and commitments across government. The second assesses strategic impact, evaluating progress toward the broader goals of the plan, namely, sustained improvements in Ireland’s competitiveness and productivity. It should be noted that changes in productivity and competitiveness are typically driven by structural factors and are characterised by lasting improvements in efficiency, capacity and innovation. They will therefore require time. In that regard, to support monitoring and oversight in respect of the broader aims of the action plan, the Government will continue to seek advice from the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council.
Across many metrics, the Government is failing to address the challenges to our competitiveness and what we are hearing back from businesses. The housing crisis has worsened, with record rents and with homelessness at a record high. Employers are asking us where their workers will live. They have nowhere to live. I am a member of the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, which has been dealing extensively with the cost of doing business. We have heard at first hand from various chambers, ISME, the Small Firms Association and many more that these costs have increased significantly. Infrastructure delivery is slow and insufficient and not in keeping with demand. We have labour shortages in sectors that are crucial to our growth, such as construction. Our unreliable energy sources and grid capacity are stifling growth in many areas. On housing, we must confront the reality of Ireland's housing crisis. Our competitiveness is being eroded by a system that cannot provide affordable accommodation for its workforce.
First, I go by evidence and fact. We are the second most competitive economy in the eurozone, which is a very strong value proposition. Since the report was brought forward in relation to the action plan, we have had a number of advances. Our semiconductor plan has commenced, which is significantly attracting investment in that space. Our action plan for market diversification is building on the risks that are there geopolitically, taking advantage of the 41 free trade agreements across the European Union with 72 countries. We brought forward our action plan for collective bargaining, which we discussed earlier on.
Despite the Deputy's reference to business costs, in the earlier debate she was looking to abolish subminimum rates, which would increase the costs of small shops by 30% or more. She is looking to bring in additional sick pay and refresh the living wage to bring it in more aggressively. All of those are costs to businesses. The Deputy should practice what she preaches in that regard. We have also brought forward and are working on a timeframe to ensure we lift the Dublin Airport cap. That is another important part of our tourism strategy. We brought forward our tourism strategy, A New Era for Irish Tourism, which was launched in December as part of the action plan.
That is why we proposed in our alternative budget that we would have a PRSI rebate for businesses as well to enable them to meet the cost. I know that the Minister would not be suggesting a race to the bottom in relation to workers and workers' rights.
Our motion earlier was about collective bargaining and the right that workers have in other jurisdictions to access to a union. I know the Minister wants good, sustainable jobs and I am sure he has looked at the good jobs legislation that my colleague, Caoimhe Archibald MLA, is bringing forward in the North.
We are facing significant skills and labour shortages in key sectors, including construction, healthcare and technology, which are all reporting struggles to recruit and retain workers. We cannot stand here and ignore what has happened with the Meta workers and the outsourcing company where jobs are really at risk as well. What is the Minister specifically doing to retain those jobs and support those workers, and has he met with those workers?
I have pointed out how we are improving the competitiveness of the economy, which is critical to ensuring we keep attracting jobs. We have about 2.83 million people working in our economy right now, which is a record. All 13 sectors of the economy are growing. That is not me saying that. It is the CSO, which is the gold standard. Real wage growth increased past inflation last year. Again, that is the CSO report, which is there for everyone to see. That shows there are very strong opportunities within the economy that is growing.
In relation to Deputy Conway-Walsh's colleague in Northern Ireland proposing to ban zero-hour contracts, we have done it. They are proposing to bring in tips legislation; we have done that. They are proposing to improve the work-life balance; we have done that already. So, a number of the initiatives that have been brought forward in the Deputy's colleague's Bill have already been acted on in this State's jurisdiction. We also brought forward the action plan on collective bargaining in advance of the target within the EU, and I made the commitment, irrespective of the European Court of Justice case, that I would accelerate it and bring it in. That is a strong testament to workers right across the economy.
Business Supports
125. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will consider targeted supports for family-run and seasonal businesses in Mayo that are particularly vulnerable to economic fluctuations, in view of the fact that these businesses are often the backbone of the economy in rural areas and require support year round; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30586/26]
Seasonal businesses, like many in my county of Mayo, are particularly vulnerable to economic fluctuations. Will the Department consider targeted supports to these businesses that are often the backbone of the economy in rural areas but also the social environment? Given there are three out of five Oireachtas Members from Mayo in the Chamber, I wish everybody a happy Mayo Day, four days early.
As Deputy Keogh said, family-run and seasonal businesses are the backbone of rural economies like ours in County Mayo. They sustain employment, support tourism and hold communities together while often operating on tight margins and facing unique challenges linked to seasonality, distance and volatility.
The Government fully recognises this reality. Rather than narrow, sector-specific schemes, our approach is to ensure that enterprise supports are flexible, accessible and responsive to businesses with different operating models, including those that are seasonal or family owned. My Department works closely with Fáilte Ireland, the local enterprise offices and Enterprise Ireland to help rural businesses extend trading seasons, manage costs, upskill staff and adapt to changing economic conditions.
In tourism and hospitality, which are critically important right across the country, Fáilte Ireland provides practical, cost-management supports including free food and beverage and energy costs toolkits and confidential one-to-one clinics. These supports are designed specifically to help small, seasonal operators protect margins, reduce waste and improve resilience. At a local level, the local enterprise office in Mayo plays a central role, and in 2025 alone it supported 200 client businesses and over 1,380 jobs, with a strong focus on competitiveness, digitalisation and energy efficiency.
Mayo businesses have also seen a strong uptake in grants such as the energy efficiency grant, green for business, grow digital and LEAN for business. Access to these supports have also been simplified to the national enterprise hub that supports over 250 Government supports. Enterprise Ireland also continues to support job creation and indigenous enterprise growth right across Mayo, with over 6,500 people employed in Enterprise Ireland-supported companies.
I thank the Minister for State. I also thank the Minister, Deputy Burke, for visiting Westport earlier in the year and meeting with our businesses. However, I have to say and I am sure the Minister of State is aware, the last few weeks have been hugely difficult. I have met with business people who maybe do not call to the office or do not usually talk to me on the street about their problems. I am thinking about a retailer who inherited the family business who is close to closing the doors of a clothes shop. I am thinking of a beautician who has been open for 15 years who told me this was the hardest year ever. I am thinking of the pubs that are closing in places like Achill or Ballycroy, which are where men in their 60s, 70s or 80s especially, who may not be in men's sheds yet, go for social connection. Do we have to help those pubs transition from pubs into community hubs or think outside the box? I think of an ice cream shop that would love to stay open until 10 o'clock or 11 o'clock at night but cannot get the staff.
We do all meet those types of business owners. However, the Government has looked at how we can respond and how we can support many businesses that are feeling the impact of rising costs. Through the cost of business advisory forum we have had SME representatives very much at the heart of reviewing the structural costs within their businesses and, indeed, we will be shaping the next phase of measures once that report comes before the Government. How we respond will be crucially important in terms of the practical measures and the evidence-based decisions. We are also undertaking a review in regard to the grants that are being administered through the local enterprise offices. We will have more details in the coming weeks on whether the grants are doing what they should be doing. 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.
It is very obvious we have been doing a lot to support and I think of the 9% VAT rate in the hospitality industry, which has been really welcome. What struck me about these businesses is that they do not seem to be reaching out for the local enterprise office supports. They do not seem to be aware of that cost of business advisory forum or the small business unit. What are we doing wrong that these business people I am meeting in the street do not seem to be aware of these supports or they are saying these supports are not enough? From an outreach perspective, what are the plans in order that we can reach these people who feel like they are on the cusp of closing their doors?
The biggest thing that came across when the Minister visited Westport and met with the chamber of commerce was rates. Businesses were talking about when they were paying rates when they first opened their doors, they were getting rubbish collection and free water, and now they feel it is only the roads and the lighting they are getting. We need to go a bit further to reach these businesses that are telling me they are not feeling the support and are close to closing their doors.
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.
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.