ISME, the Irish SME Association, has today launched its Pre-Budget Submission, setting out a comprehensive set of proposals across five key policy areas to support small businesses and the Irish economy.
The submission warns that rising business costs, red tape, overreliance on multinationals, and policy blind spots on small business are placing the Irish economy on an unsustainable trajectory. ISME is calling on Government to implement targeted, affordable reforms to support indigenous business and maintain economic competitiveness.
The five-chapter submission addresses the following areas:
- Business Costs – SMEs are battling surging costs in energy, insurance, wages and compliance. ISME is calling for a reset on the national minimum wage calculation, legal reforms to deter vexatious lawsuits, and the reintroduction of the insurance ‘Blue Book’ to improve market transparency.
- Indigenous Enterprise Policy – Government policy continues to favour foreign direct investment. ISME recommends targeted tax reliefs for Irish entrepreneurs, a reduction in VAT thresholds for exporters, and formal SME representation on the Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF).
- Skills and Training – With in-work learning falling behind, ISME is calling for National Training Fund resources to be redirected towards lifelong learning and upskilling. It also proposes a new ‘Blue Cert’ in business management aimed at SME owners and managers.
- Public Finances – ISME cautions against funding permanent current spending with volatile corporation tax receipts. The submission proposes a standing Public Pay Commission, greater use of the Rainy Day Fund, and reforms to the PRSI system to ensure fair contributions.
- Housing – With housing now acting as a de facto business cost, ISME is calling for tax incentives to unlock rental supply, support for student accommodation, regeneration grants, and accelerated investment in water infrastructure to enable development.
Neil McDonnell, Chief Executive of ISME, said: “SMEs are being squeezed from every side on energy, insurance, regulation, housing and wages. This Budget needs to stop the rot. We need policies that back Irish businesses, not just foreign multinationals. If we don’t address this imbalance in the economy now, we will pay the price in jobs and lost investment. We cannot continue with business as usual. If we want thriving towns, competitive employers and a balanced economy, we need to put Irish SMEs at the centre of policy, not on the sidelines.”
ISME’s full Pre-Budget Submission can be found here.
