Carey reaffirms Fine Gael commitment to small business

CLARE Fine Gael General Election candidate Leonora Carey has said that her party’s commitment to small and family-run enterprises was underlined in Budget 2025 with several measures introduced to help with the rising costs of doing business.

Speaking after meeting with Minister of State for Enterprise, Trade and the Employment, Emer Higgins, Ms Carey said that the budget delivered the best business package in a decade with many of the benefits coming into effect immediately.

These include the new €4,000 ‘power-up’ grant; the increased small benefit exemption; new VAT registration thresholds; capital gain tax retirement relief; new personal income tax benefits and enhanced training supports.  

Ms Carey accompanied Minister Higgins on a series of meetings with business representative groups including the Ennis and Shannon Chambers of Commerce as well the owners of small businesses. They were introduced to six businesses owners supported by the Clare Local Enterprise Office (LEO) who told them of the challenges presented by a changing economic environment.

They were also briefed on the various economic development initiatives promoted by Clare County Council and given an overview of the range of supports implemented by Clare LEO in supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs.

Minister Higgins said that although the number of people employed in companies supported by Enterprise Ireland had dropped to under 6,000 for the first time in a decade, the Government was prioritising regional development to ensure counties like Clare remained as attractive as urban centres like Dublin.

Figures from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment indicated that level of growth in jobs at companies supported by Enterprise Ireland in the Midwest region was 2.6 per cent last year compared to 5.8 per cent in the Midlands.

PHOTO: Leonora Carey with Minister of State for Enterprise, Trade and the Employment, Emer Higgins.