Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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437. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the criteria of the new restart grant will be changed to across the board and not be based on the commercial rates of 2019 in view of the fact some businesses due to their nature have been impacted more than others and have suffered a larger loss of earnings. [7634/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The application forms for the new €250m Restart Grant providing direct grant aid to micro and small businesses is available online on all local authority websites since Friday 22^ndMay. Eligible businesses who have remained open, or that reopened under phase 1 on 18^thMay or that are due to reopen in Phase 2 on 8^thJune under the Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business to ease the COVID-19 restrictions are encouraged to apply now for the Restart Grant. These applications will be prioritised for payment by the local authorities.

The Restart Grant is aimed at helping micro and small businesses with the costs associated with reopening and re-employing workers following COVID-19 closures.

To avail of the Restart Grant, applicants must be a commercial business and be in the Local Authorities Commercial Rates Payment System and:

1. have an annual turnover of less than €5m and employ between 1 to 50 people;

2. have suffered a projected 25%+ loss in turnover to end June 2020;

3. commit to remain open or to reopen if it was closed;

4. declare the intention to retain employees that are on The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme and re-employ staff on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment as business recovers.

Subject to the qualifying criteria outlined above, any business that has a commercially rateable premises including those businesses with outstanding rates bills are eligible to make an application if they meet the criteria. The grant will be the amount of the rates demand in respect of calendar year 2019 only, subject to a minimum of €2,000 and a maximum of €10,000.

If a company is currently in a rateable premise but was not rate-assessed in 2019 it is still eligible to apply. The local authority can pay the grant based on an estimate of what the rates demand for 2019 would have been.

Businesses who are not in a rateable premises are not eligible.

I understand the concerns relating to business that do not operate from commercial premises.

We opted for payment through the rates system because it is a ready-established system for financial transactions with local business so it was the quickest way to get money to businesses.

Tradespersons and service providers that operate on a mobile basis or that could continue to work remotely have been better placed to continue to trade and many don’t have the same levels of losses, of ongoing overheads or reopening costs that a fixed premises business will have. Within the funding available, the priority has been to support those who have suffered most, including closure of the business, but who will still have incurred ongoing costs.

The eligibility criteria is subject to ongoing review and we will continue to take on board issues as they arise.

Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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438. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if seasonal work and seasonal businesses that rely on a window of a few months to earn their living, for example, seaside resorts, cafés, pubs, restaurants and so on that will lose a full season will be included in Covid-19 payments and the restart grant. [7653/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The application form for the new €250m Restart Grant providing direct grant aid to micro and small businesses is available online on all local authority websites since Friday 22^ndMay. Eligible businesses who have remained open, or that reopened under phase 1 on 18^thMay or that are due to reopen in Phase 2 on 8^thJune under the Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business to ease the COVID-19 restrictions are encouraged to apply for the Restart Grant. These applications will be prioritised for payment by the local authorities.

The Restart Grant is aimed at helping micro and small businesses with the costs associated with reopening and re-employing workers following COVID-19 closures.

To avail of the Restart Grant, applicants must be a commercial business and be in the Local Authorities Commercial Rates Payment System and:

1. have an annual turnover of less than €5m and employ between 1 to 50 people;

2. have suffered a projected 25%+ loss in turnover to end June 2020;

3. commit to remain open or to reopen if it was closed;

4. declare the intention to retain employees that are on The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme.

Subject to the qualifying criteria outlined above, any business that has a commercially rateable premises including those businesses with outstanding rates bills are eligible to make an application if they meet the criteria.

Businesses that are part of a tenancy arrangement, and who pay their rates via the landlord, are entitled to apply. Landlords who apportion their rates demand among their business tenants are not eligible in their own right. As above, applications should be submitted by the tenant business.

The grant will be the amount of the rates demand in respect of calendar year 2019 only, subject to a minimum of €2,000 and a maximum of €10,000.

The grant is a contribution towards the cost of re-opening or keeping a business operational and re-connecting with employees and customers. The grant could be used to defray ongoing fixed costs, eg utilities, insurance, refurbishment or for restocking and measures to ensure employee and customer safety.

This direct grant support is part of the wider €12bn package of supports for firms of all sizes, which includes grants, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities, all of which will help to improve cashflow amongst SMEs.

Applications for the Restart Grant can be made online directly to local authorities and further information is available on the application form. If there are queries that are not addressed on the application form, businesses can contact the Business Support Unit in each local authority.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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439. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if businesses that do not pay rates are eligible for the restart grant if their respective landlords pay the rates directly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7682/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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On Friday, May 15^th, 2020 the Government announced details of the new €250m Restart Grant providing direct grant aid to micro and small businesses to help them with the costs associated with reopening and re-employing workers following COVID-19 closures; with the grant being administered by local authorities from Friday, May 22^nd, 2020.

To avail of the Restart Grant, applicants must be a commercial business and be in the Local Authorities Commercial Rates Payment System and:

1.have an annual turnover of less than €5m and employ between 1 to 50 people;

2. have suffered a projected 25%+ loss in turnover to end June 2020;

3. commit to remain open or to reopen if it was closed;

4. declare the intention to retain employees that are on The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme.

Subject to the qualifying criteria outlined above, any business that has a commercially rateable premises including those businesses with outstanding rates bills are eligible to make an application if they meet the criteria. The grant will be the amount of rates demand in respect of calendar year 2019 only, subject to a minimum of €2,000 and a maximum of €10,000.

If a company is currently in a rateable premise but was not rate-assessed in 2019 it is still eligible to apply. The local authority can pay the grant based on an estimate of what the rates demand for 2019 would have been.

Businesses that are part of a tenancy arrangement, and who pay their rates via the landlord, are entitled to apply.

Landlords who apportion their rates demand among their business tenants are not eligible in their own right. Applications should be submitted by the occupier, i.e. the tenant business.

Applications for the Restart Grant can be made online directly to local authorities since Friday, May 22^ndand further information on the Grant can be obtained by contacting the Business Support Unit of the relevant local authority.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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440. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if a proposal to reopen a business (details supplied) will be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7724/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am aware that the business you refer to has been in contact with my Department through our business supports email helpline service and our Press Office.

I wish to reiterate the advice that has previously been given by my Department. Please note that decisions around reopening will be guided by public health advice and that issues which relate to public health are not a matter for this Department.

The Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business sets out five stages for unlocking the restrictions put in place to contain the Coronavirus, at three week intervals. The Roadmap sets out how we can keep the level of transmission of COVID-19 as low as possible while balancing continuing restrictions in proportion with the positive social and economic benefits which will be brought about by businesses reopening. It is important to note that all decisions taken by Government on the timing of any lifting of restrictions as envisaged in Phases 2 to 5 of the Roadmap will be guided by the public health advice at the time.

On 15^thMay the Government announced that we would move to Phase 1 of the Roadmap from Monday May 18^th. This is in line with advice received from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET). The categories of workers, list of retailers and other facilities that can reopen under Phase 1 are available on the Government’s website gov.ie.

Businesses should review the Roadmap carefully and carry out a detailed assessment of their activities with regard to the continuing public health measures. Businesses should, based on their assessment, identify which category in which phase of reopening they will be in a position to reopen safely and in line with the continued public health measures. It is not necessary for businesses to seek official authorisation to reopen.

The National Return to Work Safely Protocol is a useful guide for businesses in making their assessments and adapting their workplace procedures and practices to comply fully with the COVID-19 related public health protection measures. It sets out in very clear terms for employers and workers the steps that they must take firstly before a workplace reopens, and then while it continues to operate.

The Protocol is available at

The Health and Safety Authority, which is an agency of my Department, is the lead agency in overseeing compliance with the Protocol in the workplace. If employers or employees need further guidance on the Protocol, the HSA Helpline can be contacted at 1890 289 389 or wcu@hsa.ie.

In order to assist businesses to address the challenges posed by COVID-19, the Government has put in place a comprehensive suite of supports for firms of all sizes, which includes the wage subsidy scheme, grants, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities. These supports are designed to build confidence, to further assist businesses in terms of the management of their companies and to allow them to begin looking to the future and start charting a path forward for weeks and months ahead.For a full list of supports for business please see .

On 8^thMay the Government agreed details of a further support which will give direct grant aid to micro and small businesses to help them with the costs associated with reopening and re-employing workers following COVID-19 closures. The Restart Grant is available to businesses with a turnover of less than €5m and employing 50 people or less, which were closed or impacted by at least a 25% reduction in turnover out to 30^thJune 2020. It is a contribution towards the cost of re-opening or keeping a business operational and re-connecting with employees and customers. The grant is equivalent to the rates bill of the business in 2019, with a minimum payment of €2,000 and a maximum payment of €10,000.

If a company is currently in a rateable premises but was not rate-assessed in 2019 it is still eligible to apply. The local authority can pay the grant based on an estimate of what the rates demand for 2019 would have been.

Applications for the Restart Grant can be made online directly to local authorities and further information is available on the application form. If there are queries that are not addressed on the application form, businesses can contact the Business Support Unit in each local authority.

All information including the application form will be available on your local authority website, the details of which are at the following link: .

I recognise the impact that this pandemic is having on businesses right across the country, I know that employers and employees want to get back to work and I support them in that ambition, but it must be safe to do so. My Department contributed to the considerations around the phased re-opening of sectors and I will work within Government to secure further details and clarity for businesses as we progress through the phases outlined in the Roadmap.

A wide range of stakeholders including employers, unions and representative groups were consulted and their advice formed part of the considerations when drawing up the Roadmap. It is a living document and Government has the ability to amends its plans depending on the circumstances existing as we progress through each phase. It will be subject to regular review in the context of the progression or suppression of the disease in Ireland or new guidance or research that emerges from other sources.