Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent)
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50. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the cost to date of all Covid-19-related payments in his Department to individuals and corporate entities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15409/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Justice is making COVID-19 specific funding available to assist organisations working to support victims of crime, including victims of domestic, sexual and gender based abuse, in response to the increased demand for services during the pandemic.

Additional funding of almost €378,000 was provided to organisations for additional services for Victims of Crime and Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence arising out of the COVID crisis.

My Department has secured an additional €400,000 to continue this COVID-19 specific support in 2021, to provide additional resources, support, enforcement and services to key organisations in the area of domestic, sexual and gender based violence.

My Department, An Garda Síochána, the Courts Service, the Legal Aid Board, Tusla and other services, including the vital supports provided by the community and voluntary sector, worked collectively to ensure supports were available to address the likely increased risk to victims of DSGBV during the Covid-19 lockdown.

The ‘Still Here’ campaign, which began in April 2020, sends the message that frontline supports and services continue to be available to victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence. It also communicates the message that travel restrictions do not apply in the case of domestic violence or to escape a risk of harm, whether to the person or to another person. The cost of the ‘Still Here’ campaign to date is €397,944.36

The 'No Excuses' campaign aims to increase awareness of sexual violence and sexual harassment. In October 2020 new advertisements for the campaign, which were suitable for broadcast during Covid19 restrictions were produced, at a cost of €147,123.90.

The Department incurred additional ICT costs of €812,820.03 to facilitate remote working.

Other COVID-19 related costs incurred by the Department include PPE, hand-sanitising stations and supplies, cleaning services, public office and remote-working assessments, and safety signage and screens. These costs amounted to €303,740.55 as outlined in the table below.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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52. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of Cork enterprises that have applied to the small business assistance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30060/21]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The total number of Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC) applications for Cork are broken down between the two Local Authorities for Cork. 

The total number of applications received for the SBASC grant for Cork City is 297.  Of that figure 163 have been approved for payment.  134 applications have been refused. 

For Cork County the total number of applications received is 291 with 99 applications rejected.  

Refusals have occurred due to eligibility requirements such as businesses not meeting the turnover criteria, turnover was not down 75% during the eligibility period, incomplete application form, the business was in receipt of CRSS or they were not in a rateable premises.

As you may be aware I recently announced an expanded SBASC phase 2 scheme which will be open for applications in early June with a closing date of 21st July.  Phase 2 has been expanded to include businesses working from a non rateable premises and those whose turnover is below €50,000. 

Businesses who are working from non rateable premises and meet all other eligibility criteria will receive a €4,000 grant and businesses whose turnover is below €50,000 and meet all other eligibility criteria will receive €1,000 grant.  These businesses have been ineligible for schemes in the past and it is my intention to ensure that these businesses receive some state support during these difficult time.  The purpose of these grants are to help meet fixed costs associated with running a business.

Further details of this expanded SBASC scheme will be available shortly on my Department's website and on Local Authority websites who will once again administer the scheme.