Kildare businesses urged to apply for €5,000 Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) Grant

All eligible Co Kildare business owners are being urged to apply for the Increased Cost of Business Grant worth up to €5,000 before the closing date for applications of May 1.  

Only 36% of all eligible Co Kildare businesses have availed of the grant to date. A total of 4,083 are eligible for the grant in the county. The closing date for applications is Wednesday, May 1.

Local Fianna Fáil Senator Fiona O'Loughlin said, "I am acutely aware of the ongoing cost challenges faced by businesses across Kildare. It has been my priority and the priority of Fianna Fáil in Government to listen and respond to those challenges.

"I received confirmation from my party colleague Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Dara Calleary TD, that only 36% of all eligible businesses in Co Kildare have applied for the ICOB grant. A total of 4,083 businesses are eligible in the county.

An increased package of €257 million for the ICOB grant was announced as part of Budget 2024. It aims to assist small and medium businesses operating directly within a premises that is commercially rateable by a local authority. The grant is intended to be paid at a rate of half the enterprise’s commercial rates bill in 2023 for firms paying up to €10,000 in rates. For those paying between €10,000 and €30,000 in rates, they will receive a grant of €5,000.

Senator O'Loughlin added, "I would encourage all eligible business owners in the county to apply for the grant worth €5,000 and to do so before the May 1 deadline. This scheme is designed to help those businesses who need it most to meet their increased costs. I particularly welcome the adjustments that have been made to the original scheme design to include more businesses and the efforts made to target the small and micro enterprises who are part of the fabric of every community across the country."