Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Crowe for tabling this Commencement matter. I am responding on behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Troy. However, I wish to make a few points before I give the Senator the Minister of State's response.

Last week was not just a low point for people in the business, it was a low point for the country. Everybody was looking forward to the reopening taking place on 5 July. I am also aware that one week in July is equivalent to November, as the Senator correctly stated. However, there are positives. One of them is the current position of 50% of adults being vaccinated. The Senator is right that the situation cannot remain as it is. I acknowledge the work the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and his team are doing and the Minister's agile approach. Last Friday, the twin-track approach was announced for the vaccination programme. Not only will there be an age approach, but there will also be a bottom-up approach that includes the youth. The youth have been held back for far too long, so this is absolutely welcome. It is a multifaceted approach within all Departments, including the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Health.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Varadkar, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and the Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Ossian Smyth, met with the hospitality sector last week to discuss the issue of indoor hospitality. Since then, officials from Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and the Department of the Taoiseach have set up a working group and met with the sector again to discuss a way forward.

The Government is very conscious of the continuing toll of the pandemic and the restrictions across the sector and, most important, for the people working in the industry. The Senator comes from that sector and his family is based in it. Since the start of the pandemic the Government has responded rapidly, putting in place an extraordinary range of supports for workers and businesses. The new national economic recovery plan includes €4 billion of stimulus to fuel the economy so businesses can recover and rebuild. The CRSS will remain in place for businesses that have to stay closed. The pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, has been extended beyond the end of June 2021 and will continue to be paid at existing rates until 7 September, when the rates will commence a gradual reduction. The employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS, is being extended until the end of 2021. The commercial rates waiver will also continue to September 2021. The 9% VAT rate will be extended until 1 September 2022. Tax warehousing is being extended until the end of the year and will be interest free in 2022.

In addition, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment's small business assistance scheme for Covid, SBASC, provided €908,000 to 227 businesses in the food and accommodation sector in phase 1 and 25 grant applications, for a total value of €93,000, have been received in phase 2. The closing date for phase 2 is 21 July. This is a scheme that many businesses do not realise is available. It is available through their county councils. It is a fantastic scheme if one is unable to avail of the CRSS. The Government wants to find practical, workable solutions to enable hospitality to reopen and stay open throughout future waves of this pandemic.

I hope I have addressed some of Senator Crowe's questions.