Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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191. To ask the Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment if those business owners in receipt of the State pension can qualify for business supports during level 5 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32807/20]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I am keenly aware that businesses are making a massive sacrifice to protect their communities and I am committed to ensuring that the Government will offer as much assistance and support as possible. Budget 2021 provided a significant package of tax and expenditure measures to build the resilience of the economy, details of the range of COVID-19 schemes are available on my Department’s website at .

We are providing cheaper loan finance through MicroFinance Ireland, SBCI and the €2bn Credit Guarantee Scheme. There are no restrictions on eligibility for these schemes for businesses whose owners are in receipt of the state pension, however, as with all applications, approval of loans under these schemes is subject to the participating finance providers’ own credit policies and procedures.

Enterprise Ireland and LEOs' Covid-19 business supports are available to qualifying enterprises, rather than to individuals. The State pension status of the owner of an enterprise, i.e. whether they are in receipt of the State Pension or otherwise, does not form part of the eligibility criteria for Enterprise Ireland Covid-19 supports. The only preclusion associated with LEO grants is in respect of the LEO Feasibility Grant eligible expenditure whereby own labour costs may not be claimed in respect of any period for which the Grantee is in receipt of Social Welfare payments including Pension (Contributory and Non-Contributory).

The PUP is payable to people between the ages of 18 up to 66 which is consistent with other social protection schemes payable to people of working age who have lost their employment. People aged 66 years and over are provided for through the contributory State pension or the non-contributory State means-tested pension.

My colleague, Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys T.D. would be best placed to provide more specific information in relation to state rules and impact on the state pension while working in retirement.