Lobby group, the Small Firms Association has called on the Government not to squander surpluses in a 'throw-away budget', but instead to re-invest in infrastructure and a stabilisation fund for potentially less favourable economic conditions.
In its pre-budget meeting with the Minister for Finance, the lobby group called for a major initiative on reducing energy costs with measures including giving back €1 billion receipted from VAT on energy over the last five years.
The SFA wants capital grants to promote renewable energy and an expansion of the Business Expansion and Seed Capital Shemes to 2013, with the investment ceilings increased.
The SFA wants an increase in VAT exemptions for small business - turnover threshold for goods to €70,000 and services to €35000.
The SFA also called for the Government to be creative in dealing with ongoing social policy issues of providing adequate pension coverage and childcare for working parents.
Among other requests, the SFA wants local authority charges to be capped and the Government to rethink its R&D support mechanisms to be more accessible to small businesses.
SFA chairman Pat Crotty said he wants a budget with a non-inflationary impact which provides for future growth.
He said the Government would be unwise to sacrifice long-term sustained growth for short-term political gain.
