James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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222. To ask the Minister for Finance if physiotherapists qualify under the Covid restrictions support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40054/20]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The details of the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) are set out in the Finance Bill 2020 and guidelines on the operation of the scheme, including the eligibility criteria for the scheme, are available on the Revenue website at: .

The CRSS is a targeted support for businesses significantly impacted by restrictions introduced by the Government under public health regulations to combat the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is available to companies, self-employed individuals and partnerships who carry on a trade or trading activities from a business premises located in a region subject to restrictions, introduced in line with the Living with Covid-19 Plan, with the result that the business is required to prohibit or considerably restrict customers from accessing their business premises. Generally, this refers to Covid restrictions at Level 3, 4 or 5 of the Government’s Plan for Living with Covid-19 but certain businesses may qualify for the support where lower levels of restrictions are in operation.

Where, as a result of the restrictions, a business is forced to temporarily close or is required to operate at significantly reduced levels, the business may qualify for support under the scheme. It is not sufficient that a business is experiencing a reduction in demand for its services because of Covid-19. To qualify under the scheme, the reduction in business activity must be because, under the specific terms of the restrictions in operation, customers are restricted from accessing the business premises in which the business activity is carried on.

Therapy services provided by a member of a designated profession within the meaning of section 3 of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, which includes physiotherapists, are considered essential services. On the basis that essential service providers are not subject to Covid restrictions which would require them to prohibit or significantly restrict access to their business premises, a physiotherapist does not qualify for CRSS.