Written answers

Thursday, 21 January 2021

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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5. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a Covid-19-related support payment in respect of rent will be available to a company (details supplied) that is currently meeting 50% of its rent requirements but due to lockdown cannot fund the balance; if, given the importance of the fact that it caters for children up to eight years of age, consideration will be given to its particular situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3110/21]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The issue of commercial rents is primarily a contractual matter for the parties involved, and as such, I cannot advise or on an individual case.

The Government has urged landlords and tenants to talk to one another and come to some arrangement, as it is in everybody’s interest that terms are amicably agreed. With this in mind, on 1st October 2020, I published the Code of Conduct between landlords and tenants for commercial rents. The aim of the voluntary Code is to facilitate discussions between landlords and tenants impacted by COVID-19. It sets out a structured approach for engagement between both commercial landlords and tenants, based on their mutual interest in continuing to work together.

However, this Code should not be seen in isolation. To date, over €24 billion had been made available in financial support for businesses, including the COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme, wage subsidies, a commercial rates holiday, low cost loans, and a VAT reduction. The Code of Conduct and the full list of supports is available on my Department’s website.

The Government is committed to ensuring as many businesses as possible survive this challenging period, and it will continue to look at how we can support businesses that have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

Photo of Alan DillonAlan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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6. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress being made on examining an alternative to a scheme (details supplied), given that a growing number of businesses in the entertainment, tourism and hospitality support sectors in County Mayo urgently require assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3132/21]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I am aware that there are a range of businesses which are not eligible for the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS).

My understanding is that the design of the scheme is such that eligibility is dependent on the level of public health restrictions in place in the business’s local area and the extent to which customer access is restricted from the business premises during that period of restriction.

As we are now unfortunately at Level 5, it is likely that many businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors including hotels and restaurants can now avail of the CRSS. I appreciate however, that some businesses still fail to qualify for the scheme.

I would note that in the recent Budget the Government has allocated significant additional resources to Departments to provide help to different sectors. This included €395m provided to the Department of Transport and the €222m allocated to the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

On the examination of an alternative scheme to CRSS, I have directed my officials to engage with other relevant Departments to identify the type of businesses that fall outside of CRSS and what other sectoral aids are available. I hope to be in a position to provide a further update in the near future.

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