Written answers

Wednesday, 29 July 2020

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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105. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of applicants have been received for the restart fund for micro and small businesses in Cork City Council; the amount allocated to the authority; the number of businesses in north central areas of County Cork that have received funding under the fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19490/20]

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 24 July 2020, Cork City Council has received a total of 2,751 applications from businesses seeking Restart Grant funding.

Cork City Council has to date received the sum of €12,014,139 in an initial funding tranche from this Department.

In response to the Deputy’s specific question in relation to the number of businesses in North Central areas of County Cork that have received funding, the Council is not in a position to respond to this query with this level of information breakdown as it has not been instructed to do so in the Service Level Agreement as agreed with my Department.

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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106. 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 that have been received from businesses in north central areas of County Cork; the number processed to date; the number that have been successful; the amount allocated to these businesses; the total value that was sought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19492/20]

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:

The Table below sets out the number of applications for supports under the various schemes for businesses impacted by Covid-19 received from businesses in County Cork.

Tables of uptake County Cork:

Scheme Number of firms / applications Number Processed to date Number of successful applicants Amount Allocated Total Value sought
Sustaining Enterprise Fund 7 applications received N/A 2 approvals €350,000 N/A
COVID-19 Business Financial Planning Grant 67 applications received N/A 65 approvals €318,129 N/A
Lean Business Continuity Support 32 applications received N/A 31 approvals €77,500 N/A
COVID-19 Online Retail Scheme 45 applications received N/A 25 approvals €849,990 N/A
Restart Grant - Cork City Council 2751 2476 1796 €12,014,139 €10,292,355
Restart Grant - Cork County Council 3129 2449 2153 €15,885,944 €9,842,457
SBCI- COVID-19 WCS N/A 391 116 (loans currently sanctioned) € 12,379,000 Not available
Microfinance Ireland COVID-19 Loan 89 Figure not available 56 €1,132,000 Not available
E-merge 13 9 5 €14,000 €14,000
Emergency Business Solutions 9 9 7 €15,750 €15,750
Business Continuity Grant 14 14 14 €2,500 per project €35,000
Business Continuity Voucher – Cork North West 426 426 322 688,000 *
Trading Online Vouchers – Cork North West 229 23** 206*** 481,342
Business Continuity Voucher – Cork South 336 336 320 736,000 *
Trading Online Vouchers – Cork South 418 284** 134*** 335,000
Business Continuity Voucher – Cork City 725 689 665 1,604,000 *
Trading Online Vouchers – Cork City 343 115** 228*** 563,460

* Clients applied for a BCV and applications were assessed and approved up to a max. amount of €2,500

**Applications currently being processed with clients

***Processed and final approval communicated to clients

Cork North Central encompass areas of the three Cork LEOs and the tables above provides details of supports by the three LEOs.

Please note it is only possible to provide data by County only.  Enterprise Ireland do not breakdown their applications/approvals into North County Cork.

MFI applications per LEO are as follows:

LEO Cork City 5
LEO Cork N/W 8
LEO Cork Sth 8

The LEOs also provided Covid related mentoring and training as per detail below:

LEO Mentoring Participants Training Participants
Cork City 149 1,117
Cork N/W 94 902
Cork South 280 996

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.

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