Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator again for raising this important issue. I will make sure her arguments are conveyed to the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform. We are committed to ensuring we have an appropriate mix of financial help and assistance in place for the businesses most severely impacted by Covid-19. We are continuing to see a strong take-up of the range of supports available for businesses but I ask businesses and all sectors to look at the supports again, visit our websites and use our business support helpline to get the information that is available. Businesses that could avail of these opportunities are not drawing them down yet and I appeal to them to use those supports. I encourage travel agents to ensure they are availing of the range of grants and other funding schemes that are in place. I am sure most of them are doing so but some might not realise they can still avail of some of the schemes. They should check for the most up-to-date version of every scheme.

The details of the CRSS are being debated as part of the Finance Bill, which is on Second Stage in the Dáil. Travel agents can avail of the scheme under levels 4 and 5. I understand their argument and the argument that many in these Houses are making that they be included under level 3. That is an issue on which the Tánaiste and I are engaging with the Minister for Finance, and I am sure other Ministers such as the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, are working on this issue as well.