Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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268. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the funding available for persons that operate businesses from their own homes further to the introduction of start-up grants for businesses following closure due to Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10110/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Restart Grant is just one part of the wider €12bn package of supports for firms of all sizes, which includes the wage subsidy scheme, the pandemic unemployment payment for the self-employed, grants, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities, all of which will help to improve cashflow amongst SMEs. I would encourage businesses that operate from their own homes with employees to continue to make use of the Temporary Wage Scheme as they transition to reopen.

I would also encourage all businesses to contact their Local Enterprise Office (LEO) to determine the most appropriate supports to meet their needs. On 8th June I announced with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, Richard Bruton TD, a major expansion of the LEOs' Trading Online Voucher Scheme to help small and micro enterprises to get online quickly.

The LEOs Trading Online Voucher is a scheme, designed to assist small and microenterprises (10 or less employees) by offering financial assistance of up to €2,500 towards training and advice to help businesses trade online. The Trading Online Voucher scheme is administered by the LEOs. The support is available to cover 90% of the costs of an online initiative and recipients can claim up to €5,000 in two vouchers worth €2,500 each. Participating in this scheme can make the process of trading online much easier for businesses. See: localenterprise.ie/Discover-Business-Supports

Trading Online Vouchers can be used for:

- development or upgrade of an e-commerce website, such as implementing online payments or booking systems

- purchase of internet related software - online advertising (subject to limits)

- development of an app

- development and/or implementation of a digital marketing strategy

- consultation with ICT experts

- training and support to develop and manage your online trading activity and subscriptions to low cost online retail platform solutions,

Full details on all COVID19 supports for business are available at: .

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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269. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if charity shops which paid rates to their local authority in 2019 are eligible for the business restart grant; and if not, the reason they are excluded. [9692/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Restart Grant is aimed at commercial business. We have sought to prioritise commercial entities that are totally dependent on their trading income which in turn creates paid employment locally and will drive economic activity and get money circulating. Within our limited funding, the aim is to get these businesses back up and running, trading as normally as possible so that they can retain employees who will no longer need a temporary wage subsidy or be able to take back workers who are on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.

The €250m Restart Grant is just one of a range of supports provided by the Government to support businesses, employers and employees on foot of the crisis.

My colleagues Michael Ring TD, the Minister for Rural and Community Development and Seán Canney TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development, on Friday, 8th May announced the launch of a €40 million package of supports specifically for Community and Voluntary Organisations, Charities and Social Enterprises. The package consists of:

- A €35 million ‘COVID-19 Stability Fund’ which will provide a level of support to qualifying organisations who are most in need and have seen their trading and/or fundraising income drop significantly during the crisis; and

- A €5m Government commitment to a Philanthropy Fund, (Innovate Together) which will focus on supporting responses to the COVID-19 crisis that require innovative and adaptive solutions to existing and emerging challenges.

The Stability Fund is being administered by Pobal. The Government will continue to support the needs of different sectors with well-tailored and targeted initiatives.