Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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12. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will address a matter raised in correspondence from a person (details supplied) on guidelines for reopening business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13758/20]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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On June 19th the Government, having considered the expert public health advice provided by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), approved the rephasing of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. Apart from some exceptions, most sectors have been brought forward to Phase 3, which began on Monday 29th June. Under the rephased Roadmap, all indoor and outdoor amenities for children can now reopen, subject to the limits on the number of attendees at indoor and outdoor gatherings. Full details are available at www.gov.ie

It is recommended that those organising children's parties of the type referred to carry out a risk assessment before reopening to manage the public health risk for their customers, attendees, participants and staff. The HPSC Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for these sectors can assist with this.

The National Return to Work Safely Protocol is the primary guide for businesses in 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 employees 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, an agency of my Department, is the lead agency in overseeing compliance with the National Return to Work Safely Protocol in the workplace. If further guidance is needed on the Protocol, the HSA Helpline can be contacted at 1890 289 389 or wcu@hsa.ie.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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13. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the restart grant will be extended to sole traders and other businesses that do not pay commercial rates (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13792/20]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Restart Grant support is just one part of the wider €12bn package of supports for commercial firms of all sizes, which includes grants, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities, all of which will help those businesses to continue trading and to maintain employment.

This package is a significant step-up in the supports available for all businesses in all sectors at this very difficult time and the measures have been developed to meet the varying needs of Irish enterprise. They are very specifically targeted by size, sector and need and are targeted at vulnerable but viable companies.

The former Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty on 25 June announced that the Department’s Enterprise Support Grant will be made available to assist self-employed recipients who are exiting the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) scheme with a once-off grant of up to €1,000 to re-start their business. A fund of €12m has been allocated for the extension of this grant.

The grant will be payable to self-employed micro enterprises which employ fewer than 10 people, have an annual turnover of less than €1 million and are not eligible for support from the COVID 19 Business Restart Grant or other similar business reopening grants.

All Covid 19 business supports and Schemes are under constant review in terms of the evolving situation and will be adapted as circumstances dictate, including adaptations to the phased opening of our economy.In that regard, I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to work with my colleagues across Government and all stakeholders to examine further appropriate supports to assist businesses impacted by Covid-19. Government will continue to explore funding potential for all enterprises as they work through the challenges facing them, including through any mechanisms allowable under the EU’s state aid framework and this analysis will be a key input to our consideration of additional measures that may be warranted as part of the Government's July Recovery Plan.

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

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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14. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the supports available to sole traders affected by Covid-19, in particular those that do not pay rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13800/20]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Restart Grant support is just one part of the wider €12bn package of supports for commercial firms of all sizes, which includes grants, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities, all of which will help those businesses to continue trading and to maintain employment.

This package is a significant step-up in the supports available for all businesses in all sectors at this very difficult time and the measures have been developed to meet the varying needs of Irish enterprise. They are very specifically targeted by size, sector and need and are targeted at vulnerable but viable companies.

On 25 June it was announced that the Department of Social Protection’s Enterprise Support Grant will be made available to assist self-employed recipients who are exiting the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) scheme with a once-off grant of up to €1,000 to re-start their business. A fund of €12m has been allocated for the extension of this grant.

The grant will be payable to self-employed micro enterprises which employ fewer than 10 people, have an annual turnover of less than €1 million and are not eligible for support from the COVID 19 Business Restart Grant or other similar business reopening grants.

Any eligible business, including the self-employed, can apply for the following supports. The most appropriate support will depend on the characteristics of the business.

MicroFinance Ireland can provide loans of up to €50,000 as an immediate measure to specifically deal with exceptional circumstances that micro-enterprises – (any business -Sole Trader, Partnership or Limited Company with less than 10 full time employees and annual turnover of up to €2m)- are facing.

Local Enterprise Offices have moved training programmes, workshops and networking meet-ups online, covering areas such as cash management in a crisis, leading your business through COVID-19 and advice for employers impacted by the crisis. Training programmes are free of charge and places can be booked online, through your Local Enterprise Office.

For existing companies and potential start-ups that meet eligibility criteria (such as employing 10 or fewer people with the potential for growth and job creation), Local Enterprise Offices can also offer financial supports to help manage current market challenges such as Business Priming Grants, Business Expansion Grants, Feasibility Study Grants and Technical Assistance for Micro-Exporters Grant.

All Covid 19 business supports and Schemes are under constant review in terms of the evolving situation and will be adapted as circumstances dictate, including adaptations to the phased opening of our economy. The Government is examining further appropriate supports to assist businesses impacted by Covid-19 as we prepare the forthcoming Recovery Plan and any suggestions the Deputy has in this regard would be most welcome.

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

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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15. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the specific supports, including financial supports and guidelines or advice provided to those working as taxi drivers or chauffeurs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13801/20]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Government has introduced a €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. Full details on all COVID19 supports for business are available at:

/

This package is a significant step-up in the supports available for all businesses in all sectors at this very difficult time. The measures have been developed to meet the varying needs of Irish enterprise and they are very specifically targeted by size, sector and need and are targeted at vulnerable but viable companies.

There are a number of loan schemes which have been put in place to assist businesses. Any eligible business, including the self-employed, can apply for the following supports. The most appropriate support will depend on the characteristics of the business.

MicroFinance Ireland can provide loans of up to €50,000 as an immediate measure to specifically deal with exceptional circumstances that micro-enterprises (any business, Sole Trader, Partnership or Limited Company with less than 10 full time employees and annual turnover of up to €2m) are facing.

The Covid-19 Working Capital Scheme is open to eligible SMEs and small mid-caps (businesses of up to 499 employees) and is operated by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and is supported by the InnovFin SME Guarantee facility.

The Future Growth Loan Scheme open to eligible SMEs and small mid-caps currently makes loans available with a term of 8-10 years and is operated by (SBCI) through participating lenders.

The new €2 billion COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme to aid SMEs is a further development of the existing Credit Guarantee Scheme already available. The Scheme will be available to all SME sectors. The implementation of this Scheme will require primary legislation, the drafting of which has commenced.

Local Enterprise Offices have moved training programmes, workshops and networking meet-ups online, covering areas such as cash management in a crisis, leading your business through COVID-19 and advice for employers impacted by the crisis. Training programmes are free of charge and places can be booked online, through your Local Enterprise Office.

On June 25th it was announced that the Department of Social Protection’s Enterprise Support Grant will be made available to assist self-employed recipients who are exiting the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) scheme with a once-off grant of up to €1,000 to re-start their business. This will provide business owners with a once-off grant of up to €1,000 to re-start their business. A fund of €12m has been allocated for the extension of this grant. The grant will be payable to self-employed micro enterprises which employ fewer than 10 people, have an annual turnover of less than €1 million and are not eligible for support from the COVID 19 Business Restart Grant or other similar business reopening grants.

The National Transport Authority, as taxi industry regulator, has updates on the latest industry news and advice

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The Government is examining all appropriate business supports to assist enterprises, including self-employed service providers, impacted by Covid-19, as we prepare the forthcoming Recovery Plan.

My colleague, Minister Eamon Ryan T.D., Minister for Transport may be able to provide more specific guidance on supports for the transport sector, and in particular taxi and private chauffeur providers.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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16. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the precise amount distributed to each local authority for the restart grant by local authority in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13828/20]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Government has allocated €250m for the Restart Grant Scheme.

A funding tranche of €200m was made immediately to the 31 local authorities, collectively, to meet the initial applications from qualifying businesses associated with Phases 1 and 2 of the Government’s Roadmap for the re-opening of the business sector .

The Scheme is subject to ongoing review and oversight by my Department in the context of potential further grant aid and the liquidity challenges faced by microenterprises and SMEs.

I have set out in the following table the amounts advanced to each Local Authority: