Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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207. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications received for the enterprise support grant from businesses in north-central areas of County Cork; the number of these that have been successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19491/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 206 and 207 together.

The Enterprise Support Grant is a support available to participants of the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance to assist with start-up costs experienced by new enterprises.  In 2019, approximately 4,800 applications were awarded at a cost of almost €3 million.  This information is not maintained on a county basis.

This grant support is now being extended to self-employed individuals to re-open their business upon the closure of their Pandemic Unemployment Payment.  The extended grant will assist eligible self-employed individuals who are exiting the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment or jobseekers schemes after 25^thJune 2020, to re-start their business which was closed due to the impact of the pandemic.  The extended grant, of up to €1,000, 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 Department is currently developing the systems to put this support into effect and will communicate how to access the grant in the coming week or so.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.