Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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293. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the criteria for the white van grant (details supplied) will be extended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29612/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As announced in the July Stimulus package, the enterprise support grant was extended to assist eligible self-employed, including sole traders, who exit the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment or jobseekers schemes after 18th May 2020 to re-start their business which was closed due to the impact of the pandemic. Funding of €12 million has been provided for this grant.

A grant up to €1,000 assists people transitioning from a weekly welfare payment with the costs associated with reopening their business. A wide range of business costs are supported including salary costs of employees.

Since the launch of the grant in August, my Department has paid almost €3.6 million to over 4,000 small businesses who have reopened their business. A self-employed individual who closes their Pandemic Unemployment Payment is encouraged to send their grant application, available on www.Gov.ie, to their local Intreo Centre.

If there is a particular case that the Deputy has a concern about, the details should be forwarded to my office for review.