Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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8. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which Covid-related supports can remain in place in order to facilitate a much-needed economic boost if and when Covid-19 restrictions are lifted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9311/21]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I recognise the impact that this pandemic is having on businesses right across the country. In order to assist businesses to address the challenges posed by COVID-19 the Government has put in place a comprehensive package to help businesses and workers during the pandemic, including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), the COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), low-cost loans, the deferral and warehousing of tax liabilities and the waiver of commercial rates. These are in addition to financial assistance and other schemes provided to businesses via Enterprise Ireland, InterTrade Ireland and Local Enterprise Offices. Full details are available here at:

On 9 February last, I announced a new €60m Scheme, called the COVID-19 Business Aid Scheme (CBAS), that is being developed to provide grants to businesses ineligible for the Government’s other existing schemes and is designed to help with fixed costs. Wholesalers, suppliers, caterers and events companies down 75% or more in turnover who are in receipts of a rates bill can benefit.

We are committed to helping businesses respond to the economic challenges arising from the pandemic with a particular focus on firms that do not qualify for the weekly CRSS grant from the Revenue Commissioners or existing sectoral schemes in areas such as the arts, transport and tourism.

This new CBAS will help some businesses that are not eligible for existing grants, largely due to the fact that the premises they operate from have not been closed to the public. We estimate that this will help approximately 7,500 businesses. While the grant is modest it will be of substantial assistance to smaller businesses with some of their fixed costs like rent, utilities and security.

I and my colleagues across Government will continue to keep the range of measures under review with the goal of setting our country towards economic recovery. The Government is determined to ensure there will be no cliff-edge scenario and businesses will continue to be supported as much as possible.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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9. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which new enterprises continue to be funded in various forms in order to address the negative impact of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9312/21]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The 31 Local Enterprise Offices continue to offer direct grant aid to microenterprises (up to 10 employees) in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sector. Subject to certain eligibility criteria, the LEOs can provide financial assistance within four main categories, following the LEO Lifecycle of Pre-Start, Start and Grow;

- Feasibility Grants, for investigating the potential of a new business idea.

- Priming Grants, to part-fund a start-up and help with direct business costs such as salary, rental costs, utilities, marketing and consultancy costs.

- Business Development grants are designed to assist the business in its growth phase after the initial 18-month start-up period.

The Local Enterprise Offices also offer a comprehensive suite of ‘soft’ supports to new enterprises such as

- The Start your Own Business Programme,

- The Mentor Programme,

- Management Training programmes,

- Local Enterprise Office LEAN for Micro.

The LEO network will continue to drive uptake of LEO offers and supports through the implementation of its ‘Making It Happen’ communications strategy at national level across the brand pillars; Pre-Start, Start & Grow. A national brand campaign under the Resilience & Recovery theme is aimed at supporting those affected by COVID-19, post-Brexit and as a shield against further economic downturns. The campaign will generate awareness of the enterprise pathway with Enterprise Ireland and cross promotion of EI supports to LEOs & LEO clients (in accordance with the programme for Government).

In addition, The Local Enterprise Offices have organised over 200 virtual events for Local Enterprise Week, which will be taking place online from March 1st to March 5th, highlighting the vast supports available to enterprises.

In order to assist businesses to address the challenges posed by COVID-19, the Government has put in place a comprehensive suite of supports for firms of all sizes. These supports are designed to build confidence, to further assist businesses in terms of the management of their companies and to allow them to begin looking to the future and start charting a path forward

The Local Enterprise Offices will continue to adapt their supports to deal with the changing external environment ensuring that they are robust in their offerings to business in tackling existing and emerging economic challenges for new enterprises.

I am continuing to work with my colleagues across Government to assist businesses impacted by COVID-19 and will continue to monitor and review the measures in place for businesses with the goal of setting our country towards economic recovery. The Government is determined to ensure that businesses will continue to be supported as much as possible.

In that regard, I have also recently announced a new scheme called the COVID Business Aid Scheme (CBAS) which is aimed at those businesses who fall outside the eligibility requirements for CRSS. This new scheme will ensure businesses will be able to access help in meeting some of their fixed costs while suffering significant falls in turnover due to public health restrictions.

These businesses are likely to include businesses within the hospitality sector for example if they do not qualify for CRSS, have a rateable premises and their turnover is significantly impacted.

CBAS will help businesses to remain open and maintain links with their customers. It will help ensure that they are well placed to benefit from the re-opening of the economy over the coming months and maintain choice for consumers.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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10. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which supports in the wake of Covid-19 can continue to remain available in order to facilitate the greatest possible extent of recovery post-Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9313/21]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I recognise the impact that this pandemic is having on businesses right across the country. In order to assist businesses to address the challenges posed by COVID-19 the Government has put in place a comprehensive package to help businesses and workers during the pandemic, including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), the COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), low-cost loans, the deferral and warehousing of tax liabilities and the waiver of commercial rates. These are in addition to financial assistance and other schemes provided to businesses via Enterprise Ireland, InterTrade Ireland and Local Enterprise Offices. Full details are available here at:

On 9^thFebruary last, I announced a new €60m Scheme, called the COVID-19 Business Aid Scheme (CBAS), that is being developed to provide grants to businesses ineligible for the Government’s other existing schemes and is designed to help with fixed costs. Wholesalers, suppliers, caterers and events companies down 75% or more in turnover who are in receipts of a rates bill can benefit.

We are committed to helping businesses respond to the economic challenges arising from the pandemic with a particular focus on firms that do not qualify for the weekly CRSS grant from the Revenue Commissioners or existing sectoral schemes in areas such as the arts, transport and tourism.

This new CBAS will help some businesses that are not eligible for existing grants, largely due to the fact that the premises they operate from have not been closed to the public. We estimate that this will help approximately 7,500 businesses. While the grant is modest it will be of substantial assistance to smaller businesses with some of their fixed costs like rent, utilities and security.

I and my colleagues across Government will continue to keep the range of measures under review with the goal of setting our country towards economic recovery. The Government is determined to ensure there will be no cliff-edge scenario and businesses will continue to be supported as much as possible.