Written answers

Wednesday, 24 February 2021

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Photo of Cathal CroweCathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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22. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports sought and received by a company (details supplied) during Covid-19. [9799/21]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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My Department has provided a wide range of COVID-19 schemes and the details of these schemes are available on my Department’s website at . I'm not aware of a submission or the details of a specific company but I am very aware of the impact of restrictions on the print and publishing sector. My colleague the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin is best placed to advise further.

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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23. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a person (details supplied) qualifies for funding despite not having a rateable premises. [9803/21]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I am acutely aware of the difficulties facing businesses right across the country due to the continuing but necessary COVID-19 restrictions. With that in mind 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.

The business person you refer to may be eligible for the schemes referred to above and should contact their local Intreo Office.

The new CBAS scheme which I announced on 9thFebruary will require businesses to be in a rateable premises. These schemes are designed to help with fixed costs associated with running a business.

I would also remind suggest that the individual contact their Local Enterprise Office to assess the full range of other advisory and funding assistance that may be available. The Local Enterprise Office can guide entrepreneurs through some of the available supports. Of particular interest may be the COVID-19 Business Loans which offer flexible repayment conditions, which are enhanced if the application is processed through the Local Enterprise Office.

Full details of all supports available from this Department can be found at the following link:

Government supports for COVID-19 impacted businesses - DETE (enterprise.gov.ie)

As it is an ever changing situation, I want to assure you that I and my colleagues across Government will continue to keep the range of supports under review.

Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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24. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when further details on the Covid-19 business aid scheme will be available when the scheme opens for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9824/21]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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On 9th 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 such as CRSS and is designed to help with fixed costs. Wholesalers, suppliers, caterers and events companies down 75% or more in turnover and in receipt of a rates bill may benefit, including those that commenced after the 1st November 2019 where their turnover is below projections.

I am 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.

The details of the Scheme are currently being worked on and I plan to launch the scheme in early March.

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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25. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a matter raised in correspondence by a group (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9879/21]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I am keenly aware that businesses are continuing to make massive sacrifices to protect their communities and I am committed to ensuring that the Government will offer as much assistance as possible. I understand the physical and mental health benefits that gyms can provide but unfortunately, as outlined in the Government plan published yesterday, we must continue at level 5 until the situation improves.

My Department has worked to ensure that appropriate financial supports are in place for businesses that require finance as they develop their response to their exposure to impacts arising from COVID-19. Details of the wide range of COVID-19 schemes are available on my Department’s website at .

My colleagues Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD and the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD., may be able to further assist you in the matter of the safe reopening of the fitness industry and the revised Living with COVID Plan.

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