Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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186. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if an association (details supplied) will be recognised as the representative body for wedding planners in Ireland; and if discussions will take place between him and the association in respect of the recommencement of weddings. [15493/21]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I understand the enormous difficulties the wedding industry is facing as the pandemic rolls on. I fully appreciate that it is one of the industries worst affected and for the longest and know that with the prospect of a second year of restrictions many in the sector must be fearing for their future.

The financial support the Government is providing businesses and workers affected by the pandemic is unprecedented. Almost a million people of working age are now in receipt of weekly payments including the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, Employment Wage Subsidy and Jobseekers Benefit or Allowance. Support for business includes the weekly CRSS payment for businesses forced to close their doors to the public, reduced VAT rates, a commercial rates holiday, the Sustaining Enterprise Fund, the Tourism Business Continuity Scheme as well as low-cost loans. 

The three main schemes, the CRSS, EWSS and PUP compare favourably with any other packages on offer in other countries. The new SBASC scheme I announced recently will provide funding of up to €8,000 for those businesses that are in receipt of a rates bill from their local authority. While the grant is modest, it will help smaller businesses in particular to cover these costs – rent, insurance, utilities, security. 

All decisions with regards the re-opening of sectors are based on the current public health advice. The revised plan for managing the virus – ‘COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021: The Path Ahead’ – can be found at

The ‘COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021: The Path Ahead’ sets out the phased in-school education and childcare services reinstatement from 1 March, staggered until 12 April. This will be alongside the scaling up of the vaccination programme, ensuring that all vaccine doses are administered to target groups as soon as possible.

Any further easing of restrictions after 5 April will require careful consideration. 

The Government does not take these decisions lightly, we are acutely conscious of the impact it will continue to have on businesses, which is why the Government has worked to support businesses through this difficult time with a comprehensive range of measures for firms of all sizes. This is a rapidly evolving and changing situation and the Government will continue to monitor the enfolding situation to ensure the correct balance between is found that protects and serves all of our citizens and businesses.