Written answers

Thursday, 17 December 2020

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Photo of Marc MacSharryMarc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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160. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses in counties Sligo and Leitrim that have received support under the restart grant and the restart grant plus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43803/20]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Restart Grant and Restart Grant Plus schemes were designed to help small and medium sized businesses get back on their feet after what has been an exceptionally difficult time. The Restart Grant scheme was launched on 15 May with a budget of €250 million. The Restart Grant Plus scheme was launched on 10 August with an additional budget of €300m from the Government’s July Jobs Stimulus as a result of the increasing demand for the scheme.

The purpose of the schemes was to help with the cost of reopening or adapting business premises so that normal business could resume. Grant payments were administered by the Local Authorities via the commercial rates system as this was considered the most effective means to get urgent financial assistance to small businesses impacted by COVID-19.

The Restart Grant Plus scheme closed to new applications on 31 October and the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) operated by the Revenue Commissioners is now in place.

In response to the Deputy’s specific question and as at 11December 2020, Sligo County Council has awarded Restart Grant payments to 641 businesses. 981 businesses benefitted from grant payments under the Restart Grant Plus Scheme.

Leitrim County Council has awarded Restart Grant payments to 345 businesses, with 467 businesses benefiting from payments under the Restart Grant Plus Scheme.

In total, over 118,600 applications have been managed under both Restart schemes. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the 31 local authorities and the Local Government Management Agency for the efficiency with which they have managed applications under both schemes.

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