Written answers

Wednesday, 29 July 2020

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Photo of Johnny MythenJohnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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101. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of applications received for the restart fund for micro and small businesses in County Wexford; the amount of funding allocated to the authority; the number of businesses in County Wexford that have received funding under the fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19436/20]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Restart Grant scheme is just one part of the wider suite of measures 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. This package is a significant step-up in assistance 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.

As of 24thJuly 2020, the total number of applications for the Restart Grant throughout County Wexford amounts to 1,648, with 1,446 businesses having been approved and paid; with a further 49 applicants approved and awaiting payment.

Wexford County Council received the sum of €5,974,280 within the first tranche of funding from this Department.

Photo of Johnny MythenJohnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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102. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of applications for supports under the various schemes for businesses impacted by Covid-19 received from businesses in County Wexford; the number that have been processed to date; the number that have been successful; the amount that has been allocated to the businesses; the amount requested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19438/20]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Government previously 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 COVID-19 supports for business are available at: 

On July 23rdthe Government announced the July Jobs Stimulus, a €7.4bn package of measures designed to stimulate a jobs-led recovery and build economic confidence while continuing to manage the impact of Covid-19.  Further details on the July Jobs Stimulus are available at:

Tables of uptake:

Scheme Number of firms / applications Number Processed to date Number of successful applicants Amount allocated Amount Requested
Business Financial Planning 12 N/A 12 €58,395 N/A
Lean Business Continuity Voucher 5 N/A 5 €12,500 N/A
Sustaining Enterprise Fund 2 N/A 1 €800,000 N/A
Sustaining Enterprise Fund Small Enterprise 1 N/A 1 €50,000 N/A
Online Retail Scheme 9 N/A 4 €131,662 N/A
Restart Grant 1648 1621 1495 €5,974,280 €5,858,709
SBCI- COVID-19 WCS N/A 75 21 € 3,962,000 Not available
Microfinance Ireland COVID-19 Loan 42 Not available 31 €1,019,200 €1,394,200
E-merge 1 1 1 €2,800 €2,800
Emergency Business Solutions 1 1 1 €2,250 €2,250
Business Continuity Grant 1 1 1 €2,500 €2,500
Business Continuity Vouchers 395 395 339 €494,750 (approved amount) Clients applied for a BCV and applications were assessed and approved up to a max. amount of €2,500
Trading Online Vouchers 271 100* 171** €390,112 (approved amount)

*Applications/clients currently being processed

**Processed and final approval communicated to clients

The Local Enterprise Office in Wexford submitted 30 Micro Finance applications and also provided Covid-19 related Mentoring Support to 108 participants and Training Support to 816 participants.

Later this year the Government will set out a National Economic Plan, to chart a long term, jobs-led recovery. It will set out how we secure our public finances in a world where we must live with Covid-19, while driving efforts to decarbonise our economy and prepare for the next phase of technological transformation.

Photo of Jennifer WhitmoreJennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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103. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if supports for travel agencies will be provided as part of the July stimulus package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19442/20]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Repairing the damage wrought on the economy – and keeping the virus contained – is vital for the wellbeing of our people. As such, the July Stimulus package is the next step in our national recovery effort. It is designed to help businesses which have not reopened yet and those struggling to do so. We have listened to businesses and responded with a package of scale and speed to meet their most immediate needs. Our main objective is to save jobs and create new ones.

COVID-19 has had an enormous impact on communities, businesses, families and individuals across the country. The priority of the Government remains the wellbeing of our people and communities. We are now increasing our focus on business and on getting as many people as possible back to work.

Businesses, including travel agents, will be able to benefit from many of the actions within the July Stimulus including:

- A new Employment Wage Support Scheme that will succeed the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme and run until April 2021;

- An enhanced Restart Grant for Enterprises that will be open to more businesses with the maximum amount available increasing to €25,000 and the minimum payment doubled to €4,000. Businesses that have already accessed the Restart Grant will be eligible to apply for a top up payment. Some businesses not previously included in the scheme, such as B&Bs, will now be eligible.;

- A waiver of commercial rates for the six months to end-Sept 2020;

- The €2 billion COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme that will see Government provide an 80% guarantee for a wide range of credit products from €10,000 up to €1 million up to a maximum term of 6 years;

- A package of liquidity and enterprise investment measures to help small and micro companies through additional resources for MicroFinance Ireland (MFI) and the Local Enterprise Offices;

- To provide immediate cash-flow support to previously profitable companies, the early carryback of trading losses will be allowed, leading to an immediate refund of some or all of corporation tax paid;

- There will be a 6-month reduction in the standard rate of VAT from 23% to 21%, effective from the beginning of September;

- Businesses affected by Covid-19 will be able to delay payment of their PAYE and VAT debts in part of in full for a set period with no interest or penalties;

- The interest rate applying to agreed repayments of all tax debt (where agreement has been reached prior to 30 September 2020) will be reduced to 3%; and

- Businesses will also be supported to develop their online presence through a further funding call of the Online Retail Scheme of €5.5 million through Enterprise Ireland and an expansion of the Online Trading Voucher Scheme from the Local Enterprise Offices of €20 million.

Further information on these, along with the full list of actions within the July Stimulus and how to avail of them can be found at www.gov.ie/jobsstimulus.

The National Economic Plan, to be developed in parallel with the next Budget, will be the next step in the Government's approach.  It will go beyond the issue of business supports and set out a range of actions to be developed across Government to realise economic recovery.

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