Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 18 November 2020

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised)

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The scheme is run by the Revenue Commissioners through the Department of Finance rather than my Department but I am across it as I must be because it impacts on business a great deal. While it is a tax credit, and it is taxable, businesses will only end up paying it back if they start making profits so in many cases it will not be paid back. If companies return to profit in the years ahead, they will repay it then, but much of it will not be paid back. It is a tax stream similar to the restart grant, for example. It is designed to cover the fixed costs of having a business that is closed, such as utilities, security and insurance. While many companies do not qualify for it, they may qualify for other things such as the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS. The whole idea of the CRSS was to cover the fixed costs of a premises which the Government told business owners they must close. Companies that do not qualify do not have a premises that must be closed, but they may have other fixed costs not related to a premises that must be closed. We are trying to help firms in areas such as the event sector in another way. The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, has a very substantial budget and is trying to develop schemes that might help companies without a premises that has been closed. I think there will be a few businesses that fall between stools. One which occurred to me was the chauffeur limousine sector, which has been very badly hit. I am thinking of those who serve the airports, for example. Another group of people who might not be covered are those who run exhibitions. They do not have premises so they do not get anything from the CRSS and will not benefit from the arts and events schemes which the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, will develop. We will have to return to this when we have a better fix on which companies fall between stools.