228. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the specific measures are being considered to assist long-established family businesses in rural communities with succession planning, digitalisation, energy efficiency and rising operating costs. [66961/26]

I recognise the important economic and social contribution made by long-established family businesses in rural communities. These businesses support local employment, sustain essential services and contribute to the resilience and vitality of towns and villages throughout the country.

Digitalisation is a central element of the Government’s enterprise policy. The Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity contains actions for improved and more targeted funding for the adoption of artificial intelligence and digital tools, together with measures to support innovation and the adoption of productivity-enhancing technologies by SMEs. It also provides for a targeted SME upskilling and reskilling scheme. In the tourism sector, which is particularly important to rural and regional economies, the Plan commits to promoting the digitalisation of tourism SMEs through pilot projects involving technologies such as generative AI, the Internet of Things and immersive experiences, in partnership with European Digital Innovation Hubs.

The Local Enterprise Offices will also continue to play a central role in supporting small businesses. Over the period from 2026 to 2030, their focus will include competitiveness, productivity, exports, decarbonisation and digitalisation. This will involve an expansion of established supports such as Digital for Business, Grow Digital, Green for Business and the Energy Efficiency Grant.

The Government is also conscious that energy costs remain a significant pressure for small businesses. International supply disruptions and pressures in refined-product markets can feed rapidly into domestic diesel, petrol and kerosene prices. This is particularly relevant to rural businesses that may be more dependent on road transport and oil-based heating.

The Cost of Business Advisory Forum Report, published on the 28th of August, identifies energy as the principal contributor to rising non-pay business costs and makes a range of practical recommendations. These include greater transparency in energy bills, a commercial price-comparison and switching tool, improved guidance on reducing energy consumption, increased availability of low-cost energy audits for SMEs, simpler application processes for energy grants and supports, multi-annual funding for business energy-upgrade schemes, and the development of options to expand Accelerated Capital Allowances for measures recommended through qualified energy audits.

The Forum also makes recommendations addressing the broader operating-cost and administrative pressures facing small businesses. These include simplifying permits and licences, making the SME Test more rigorous, reducing duplication in reporting obligations, simplifying corporate tax returns and improving transparency and competition in business banking and payment services. Its recommendations are intended to reduce the cost and complexity of doing business and to create a more competitive, resilient and productive environment for enterprises of all sizes.

These recommendations complement measures in the Government’s Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity, which includes a cross-Government Red Tape Challenge to reduce unnecessary administrative burdens on SMEs, strengthening of the SME Test, an expansion of the one-stop business licensing service and continued action to improve insurance affordability, transparency and availability.

Finally, the Government is committed to ensuring that enterprise development is regionally balanced. The Action Plan provides for new Regional Enterprise Plans from 2026 onwards, consideration of a new Regional Enterprise Development Fund, and closer alignment between regional enterprise policy, regional spatial strategies and the National Planning Framework. These measures are intended to strengthen local enterprise ecosystems and support sustainable businesses and employment throughout the regions.

My Department will continue to ensure that small and family-run businesses can access practical supports to improve productivity, adopt digital technologies, invest in energy efficiency and manage the continuing pressures associated with the cost of doing business.