Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to bring up an issue I spoke about earlier. National Broadband Ireland, NBI, gave me a note on some issues it believes need to be sorted out around planning permits and such in terms of streamlining the roll-out of the national broadband plan. I have sent that note to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and expect him to come back with an answer. I have also sent it on to the Tánaiste's office for his information if he is going to engage with NBI.

I want to raise an issue I brought up previously with the Tánaiste. There are a huge number of firms and individuals who believed the Covid restrictions support scheme, CRSS, and other supports would have been for them but they happened to fall between stools. In the past couple of hours, I have sent the Tánaiste a number of issues, particularly about two entertainment companies which still have huge overheads and a mobile food unit. In fairness, I did this on the basis that the Tánaiste said he had an interest in dealing with these issues. If we are not looking at a change regarding how the Covid-19 business aid scheme, CBAS, will be assessed, perhaps the Tánaiste could come back to me on whether he has any plans on a timeline regarding alternatives for these people who have fallen between stools.

It has also been brought to my attention by Dundalk Chamber of Commerce that the man in a van model is also failing. There is also an issue regarding the fact that the rates waiver assessment probably needs a greater level of flexibility. I would really appreciate if the Tánaiste could come back to me, especially with regard to an alternative to the CBAS and other supports.

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