Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister made reference to the restart fund. She is bringing a memo to Cabinet tomorrow. When does she expect the scheme to be announced, when does she anticipate people being able to apply for the scheme and how quickly will rebates be made because businesses, certainly in Limerick and north Tipperary, are asking specifically about how the scheme will operate in practice?

The Minister said people can judge based on the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business as to when they can reopen. There is a need for a one-stop-shop that businesses can ring with queries in this area in terms of clarification as distinct from decisions being made. Where are we with regard to that one-stop-shop being established?

I believe there is a need for particular recovery action plans at local authority level. I put a ten-point action recovery plan to Limerick City and County Council where the council would deal with specifics, set up its own one-stop-shop and look at what it can do with remote working, how businesses will open and what it will do with streets so we can deal with social distancing. Would the Minister support such an idea in terms of getting down? It has the added advantage of enhancing balanced regional development.

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