Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Canney for raising this matter. We had an update from the Minister, Deputy Burke, at the Cabinet today. I do not have the figures in front of me but from looking through the table, local authority by local authority, it looks to me that around 60% of those eligible so far have applied for the grant. We will certainly keep under review the deadline for that grant. I think it is some 60%-odd of people who are eligible.

The first point the Deputy is making is the bigger point that there are some businesses which did not qualify and were perhaps not able, for a variety of reasons, to get the increased cost of business grant, and he asks that scheme be expanded to include them. That is something that the Minister is giving active consideration to. It has been raised and discussed amongst Government parties. I will raise it directly with the Minister, Deputy Burke, now that Deputy Canney has brought it to my attention and I will ask that he comes back to the Deputy on it.

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