SMEs ‘happier with Government’

There has been an increase in satisfaction with the Government’s performance in key areas of economic management among the SME sector, according to a survey by the Irish Small to Medium Enterprise Association.

The survey of more than 800 SMEs showed a satisfaction rating of -57 compared with -62 in the autumn. Respondents are asked how they feel about the Government’s handling of key sectors such as jobs, banking, business costs, and dealing with the troika.

Isme CEO Mark Fielding said: “The slight improvement in overall satisfaction ratings reflects the SME business reaction to the 2013 Budget, announced the previous week, which had, for the first time in years, focused on the SME sector. In line with the previous three quarters’ surveys, banking and business costs and the Government’s efforts to sort them out come in for the most negative scores.