Charlie Flanagan, TD

Mentoring and training supports available through Government backed agencies should be expanded urgently to benefit more small businesses and entrepreneurs, said to Fine Gael Senator Maria Byrne.

Supporting small businesses and enterprise during a time of increased costs will be the focus of a specially organised Fine Gael conference in Limerick next week.

The country’s main opposition party will not publish their full alternative Budget as assured during the week as they are afraid of scrutiny, a Fine Gael Minister has said.

Fine Gael is holding a special one-day Small Business and Enterprise conference in Thomond Park, Limerick on Saturday, 24th September.

The Government’s ‘Together for Better’ funding model for Childcare which includes a new Core Funding element will begin to ease the burden of childcare costs for parents, a Fine Gael Minister has said.

The Department of Housing must extend the Croí Cónaithe scheme to rural areas with populations above 400 Fine Gael TD Ciaran Cannon has said.

Many taxpayers working in different areas are not aware of flat-rate expenses they are entitled to, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Fine Gael’s Finance Committee members are completely against a proposal by the Commission on Taxation and Welfare to increase inheritance tax.

Fine Gael farming representatives have stressed the need for continued support for relief schemes to Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe.

A temporary reduction in the VAT rate which applies to home energy production such as wind and solar, and also applies to residential retrofitting, should be implemented to help people with energy cost pressures, according to Fine Gael TD Alan Farrell.