Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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57. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to sustain business and jobs in the Gaeltacht and the islands in view of the fact phased plans for reopening the economy have been delayed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17401/20]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy knows, my Department works in partnership with Údarás na Gaeltachta, the regional authority established in 1980, which is tasked with the economic, social and cultural development of the Gaeltacht, including Gaeltacht islands.

I wish to assure the Deputy that Údarás na Gaeltachta are working alongside Government Departments and other State Agencies on a cohesive approach to sustain their client companies and job creation during the COVID-19 crisis.

In that regard, a number of initiatives/measures have been put in train and these include the Advisory & Supports Plan, originally issued in March 2020 and regularly updated since, describes the financial and consultancy supports available to Údarás na Gaeltachta client companies and community organisations in the Gaeltacht.

There is a range of supports available to Gaeltacht companies to support and improve their businesses at this time including the Online Trading Scheme, Business Continuity Voucher, COVID19 Business Financial Planning Grant, Lean Business Continuity Voucher, Be Ready Grant, Act on Initiative Scheme, Mentoring Scheme and Finance in Focus Scheme.

Individual contact is also being maintained with client companies most affected to assist them accessing the appropriate supports.

In order to further underpin this work, client companies of Údarás na Gaeltachta will be able to access the full range of supports under the Sustaining Enterprise Fund. An initial amount of €5m is being made available through Údarás na Gaeltachta, working in close co-operation with Enterprise Ireland who are administering the fund nationally.

This is in addition to the recently announced extra funding of €0.6m secured by my Department to enable Údarás na Gaeltachta to administer the Trading Online Voucher Scheme in the Gaeltacht.

Insofar as small businesses in Gaeltacht regions and on the islands are concerned, I would also encourage them to apply for the Government’s €250m Restart Grant Fund, providing direct grant-aid to micro and small businesses through the local authorities. The support, in the form of direct grant-aid, is aimed at helping micro and small businesses with the costs associated with reopening and re-employing workers following COVID-19 closures. The grant can be used to defray ongoing fixed costs, e.g., utilities and insurance or for replenishing stock and for measures needed to ensure employee and customer safety.

Finally, I should point out that the July stimulus package will further help to alleviate the significant challenges arising from Covid-19 across the economy.