Written answers

Wednesday, 24 March 2021

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Photo of Neale RichmondNeale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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163. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the restart grant will be reintroduced once businesses can reopen to support them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14815/21]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Restart Grant Plus scheme has closed to new applications since 31 October 2020. The Scheme  has been superseded by a number of measures in Budget 2021, including the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) operated by the Revenue Commissioners, which offers a targeted, timely and temporary sector-specific support to businesses forced to close or trade at significantly reduced levels due to COVID of up to €5,000 per week.

The new Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC) gives grants to businesses which are not eligible for the Government’s COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), the Fáilte Ireland Business Continuity grant or other direct sectoral grant schemes. This scheme aims to help businesses with their fixed costs, for example, rent, utility bills, security. Applications for Phase 1 of the Scheme are now open via all Local Authorities and the closing date for receipt of applications is 21 April 2021. Further information and application forms are now available on the websites of all Local Authorities. 

This new SBASC is in addition to the comprehensive package the Government has put in place to help businesses and workers during the pandemic, including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), low-cost loans, the deferral and warehousing of tax liabilities and the waiver of commercial rates.

Details of the wide range of COVID-19 supports are available on my Department’s website at:

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

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