Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 6, to delete lines 12 to 23 and substitute the following: "(i) in paragraph (a)(i)(I), by the insertion of "or, where the claim relates to a period specified in subsection (8)(b)(ii)(I) or (II) or to any full week falling within the period beginning on 5 July 2021 and ending on 18 July 2021, 20 per cent," after "10 per cent",

(ii) in paragraph (a)(i)(II), by the insertion of "or, where the claim relates to a period specified in subsection (8)(b)(ii)(I) or (II) or to any full week falling within the period beginning on 5 July 2021 and ending on 18 July 2021, 10 per cent," after "5 per cent",

(iii) in paragraph (a)(ii)(I), by the insertion of "or, where the claim relates to a period specified in subsection (8)(b)(ii)(I) or (II) or to any full week falling within the period beginning on 5 July 2021 and ending on 18 July 2021, 20 per cent," after "10 per cent",

(iv) in paragraph (a)(ii)(II), by the insertion of "or, where the claim relates to a period specified in subsection (8)(b)(ii)(I) or (II) or to any full week falling within the period beginning on 5 July 2021 and ending on 18 July 2021, 10 per cent," after "5 per cent", and".

This amendment amends subsection 4(1)(d) of the Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021, as initiated.

Section 4 amends section 485 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 and gives effect to the enhanced restart repayments and the extension of the Covid restrictions support scheme, CRSS. This is a targeted business support introduced in the Finance Act 2020 for businesses that are significantly impacted by restrictions introduced by the Government under public health regulations to combat the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The scheme is designed to assist those businesses where Government restrictions prohibit or restrict customers from accessing their business premises and the trade has been significantly impacted or temporarily closed as a result.

The amendment is introduced to provide for the double rate of Covid restriction support scheme payments for businesses which continue to be subject to Government restrictions which prohibit or significantly restrict members of the public from accessing the business premises for the weeks commencing 5 July 2021 and 12 July 2021. The maximum weekly payment of CRSS will remain at €5,000. When the applicable Government restrictions are eased, these businesses will qualify for the enhanced restart repayment of double the normal rate of CRSS for a period of three weeks, subject to a maximum payment of €10,000 per week. This measure is designed to support businesses in various sectors that remain subject to ongoing public health restrictions in July.

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