Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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217. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason sole traders are excluded from the ready for customs grant; if an alternative grant is available for sole traders for such costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20799/21]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Enterprise Ireland’s Ready for Customs grant provides companies with financial assistance to cover the costs of taking on much needed additional customs clearance staff. This grant is open to enterprises that are currently engaged in the movement of goods to, from, or through the UK and which will require new or increased customs clearance capacity. These include enterprises that are providing freight, haulage, logistics services to, from or through the UK or are providing customs intermediary services or are directly engaged in the movement of goods with or through the UK.

Enterprises must be a limited company and have a CRO number (not a business name) and be incorporated in the Republic of Ireland at the time of application. The other conditions include evidence of an EORI number from the Revenue Commissioners and where the provision of customs intermediary services is less than 12 months since establishment, the submission of a supporting business plan.

As the eligibility criteria states that enterprises must be a limited company and have a CRO number, sole traders are not eligible for the Ready for Customs grant support.