Mayo pre-election clash over town centre retail closures

A pre-general election clash has erupted between two outgoing Mayo TDs over government efforts to help sustain small commercial enterprises across the county.

Sinn Féin Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh cited growing concerns over the level of retail businesses closing down in town centres despite schemes being set up to support them.

Addressing her remarks to Fianna Fáil Deputy Dara Calleary, who is Minister of State for Trade Promotion, she explained that when she walks down American Street in Belmullet or the main streets of Ballina, Castlebar and other towns, she sees that many businesses have shut down.

She hit out: "That speaks to me of the disconnect. The bureaucracy and red tape around various schemes often means that people cannot access them.

"Obviously, there is the impact of the cost of living as well. People just do not have enough money in their pockets to be able to spend, so the footfall is reduced.

"I realise the rising cost of insurance and rates are also issues in absolutely crippling a lot of small businesses."

Minister Calleary said the government is taking a number of steps to address the concerns of small businesses and the challenge they are facing around rising costs.

"The increased cost of business scheme has paid out over €244 million in this year to almost 75,000 SMEs, which includes 38,000 SMEs in retail and hospitality.

"Recognising that businesses operating in retail and hospitality sectors face higher costs, we have announced a €170 million power-up grant in budget 2025. Under this grant, these retail and hospitality businesses that received a second grant under the increased cost of business scheme are in line to receive a grant of €4,000."

However, he accepted there is an acknowledgement that a lot of initiatives have been introduced in recent years and that the sequencing of them was not properly thought out with respect to costs.

"It was not done but we have now strengthened the SME test. The Cabinet has signed off on that.

“It will ensure that far more vision is given to initiatives, and that they are sequenced and streamlined.

"Auto-enrolment has been postponed for a number of months to give businesses a chance to get more ready for it. We are constantly looking to see how we can assist with regard to costs.

"We are very frustrated that insurance costs, for instance, have not reduced in line with the work that is being done to reimagine the insurance landscape in Ireland.

“The action plan on insurance has delivered 95% of actions. That is not reflected in insurance costs, and we continue to highlight that.

"The power-up grant will be paid before the end of this calendar year. It is a flat grant of €4,000.

“We absolutely recognise that it does not cover the increase in costs but it does go some way," added Minister Calleary.

Fianna Fáil Deputy Cathal Crowe said similar problems were being experienced in Clare and other counties along the western seaboard.

"I know from talking to people in Clare County Council and constituents who have businesses that there is some cause for hope.

"But they also feel that the last few years have loaded an awful lot on employers and people who own businesses. One of the things they will say, and we have all met them in our constituency clinics, is that everything has come at them, from auto-enrolment to the minimum wage and the cost of insurance.

"It is all coming at them at the same time, pretty much."