Over 4,000 south Dublin businesses yet to avail of grant

Over 4,000 businesses in the South Dublin County Council area should act now and apply for a once-off Government grant to help them meet rising costs, a Fine Gael Minister has said.

Minister of State for Business, Employment & Retail, Emer Higgins has urged South Dublin County Council, who is currently administering the scheme on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, to proactively engage with businesses and allow them to apply for the scheme beyond the May 1^st deadline.

Higgins said: “This €257 million scheme was announced in Budget 2024 by my colleague, former Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney, and will provide a real boost to micro businesses and small and medium enterprises here in Dublin Mid West.

“In our area, over 4,000 eligible businesses have yet to make a submission for the scheme and I would urge them to do so through the online portal at mycoco.ie. If they need assistance, businesses can also contact South Dublin County Council which have written to all rate payers with a Customer ID and pin.

“The deadline of May 1^st for businesses to confirm their eligibility and upload verification details is fast approaching in a couple of weeks on May 1st, and I would like to see this deadline extended to ensure they benefit from this vital support.

“For businesses with a 2023 Commercial Rate bill of less than €10,000, the ICOB grant will be paid at a rate of 50% of the business’s Commercial Rate bill for 2023. For qualifying businesses with a 2023 Commercial Rate bill of between €10,000 and €30,000, the ICOB grant will be €5,000.

“There should also be pro-active direct email engagement by Local authorities and Local Enterprise Offices to ensure that entrepreneurs and business owners get a portion of their rates back.

“I am also pleased that Taoiseach Simon Harris and Enterprise Minister Peter Burke are working with Government colleagues to examine what additional supports can be provided to small and medium businesses, ahead of Budget 2025,”

“Fine Gael is the party of small business. We know small businesses are at the heart of our local communities and economies. We also are aware of the pressure businesses are under, and we want to help,” said Higgins.

Minister Burke said: “This grant is a vital measure aimed at providing key funding to our small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy. “It is my priority and a key priority of this government to assist our businesses with any increase in costs they are facing to ensure they can continue to play a pivotal role in our local economy.”

Higgins concluded, “The Increased Cost of Doing Business Grant Scheme is available for 95% of rateable businesses in Ireland but from what we see can around 30% of businesses have claimed this support across the country. I really urge eligible businesses to register as soon as possible”.