Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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160. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if restart grants will be provided to assist SMEs reopen after Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25567/21]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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A significant package of tax and expenditure measures to build the resilience of the economy and to help vulnerable but viable businesses across all sectors was introduced in Budget 2021. The measures include the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), now extended until the 30^thof June, the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), the COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), and the Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC), low-cost loans, the deferral and warehousing of tax liabilities and the waiver of commercial rates.

The CRSS has provided vital support to businesses that have been forced to close or restrict access to their premises on foot of public health regulations. As we start to reopen the economy, the Government has agreed to the extension of the CRSS until 30^thof June 2021. Any business currently availing of CRSS and that can now reopen as restrictions are eased will be able to avail of double restart week payments for two weeks subject to the statutory maximum of €5,000 per week to support them in meeting the costs of reopening as they exit the scheme

The Government are committed that there will be no cliff-edge end to the economic supports at the end of June. Government recognises that re-opening will be costly and will pose new challenges that will need to be sustained by continued supports and corrective measures to get the balance right between supporting recovery and cost to the Exchequer and plans for this are currently in development.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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161. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports that are available for a small businesses (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25585/21]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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As you know, the Government is very aware of the difficulties business owners are facing right across the country due to the ongoing but necessary COVID-19 restrictions.  It is recognised that the events industry has been one of the hardest hit.

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), Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC), low-cost loans, the deferral and warehousing of tax liabilities and the waiver of commercial rates. 

I would urge business owners to contact their Local Enterprise Office who can signpost and advise on supports that maybe available to them.

The business you refer to states that they have a turnover lower than €50,000 and this in turn makes them ineligible for some grant schemes.

As you know, Government provides subsidies or other income supports in the form of the EWSS and the PUP.  

It is important to note that the support schemes are there to help meet fixed costs that cannot be avoided and to provide basic weekly income support up to maximum of €350 per week.  They are not created to provide compensation for loss of personal income above this level or compensation for loss of profits for any sector.

I want to assure you, however, that I have noted the concerns outlined in the letter and all Government supports are being kept under review.