Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
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36. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans for continuing subvention of the travel agent sector given the extraordinary challenges ongoing (details supplied); the supports that will be offered to a sector suffering a continuing 80% to 90% revenue reduction as a result of Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32165/21]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Given the impact the necessary COVID-19 restrictions has had, it is likely that businesses in the travel sector, such as travel agents, will take longer to recover than those engaged in other sectors of the economy. It has been an incredibly difficult time for such businesses.

The Government’s comprehensive package to help the wide range of businesses during the pandemic, including travel agents, includes the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), the COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), the Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC), low-cost loans, the deferral and warehousing of tax liabilities and the waiver of commercial rates.

In addition to these financial provisions, my colleague Mr Eamon Ryan T.D., Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, and Transport also provided access to the Refund Credit Note scheme which allowed travel agents to issue credit notes, underwritten by the State, to consumers in lieu of cash refunds. This measure helped further enhance the ability of travel agents to survive this crisis.

These schemes have been vital in sustaining businesses and workers, getting us to the point we have now reached. With the economy now re-opening in clear phases, and vaccine roll-out comprehensively underway, the Economic Recovery Plan sets out a renewed package of assistance, investments and policies for a new stage of economic recovery, providing a clear pathway for the labour market and enterprise towards new opportunities.

The Plan includes in excess of €3.5 billion in further labour market and enterprise schemes and just under €1 billion additional funding under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP).

This Plan comprehensively expands the EWSS and PUP, and provides clarity and certainty for businesses and employees over the period ahead by outlining next steps.

In addition, it extends CRSS as well as enhances the SBASC payment; extends the Commercial Rates Waiver until the end of September 2021; provides for a new additional Business Resumption Support Scheme; extends Tax Debt Warehousing until the end of 2021; and further extends the 9% tourism VAT rate until September 2022. Information on the wide range of schemes can be found on my Department’s website.

Eligibility for the SBASC for Q2 2021 applications has been broadened in two ways. Where businesses have a minimum turnover of €50,000 they can benefit from a €4,000 grant. This now includes businesses in non-rated premises, thereby benefitting self-employed people working from home, who meet all other eligibility criteria. It also provides for a grant of €1,000 for businesses with a minimum turnover of €20,000 and a maximum turnover of €49,999, with all other SBASC eligibility criteria applying. Applications for this Scheme close on 21 July 2021.

We are committed to the economic recovery of the country and work is ongoing across Government to ensure the assistance which will be in place is sufficient, targeted and sustainable.

I, along with my colleagues, Ms Catherine Martin T.D., Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, and Mr Eamon Ryan T.D., Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, am fully committed to doing everything possible to support all those affected by the necessary restrictions implemented due to COVID-19, and including continuing to help businesses survive until such times as they can begin to trade in a meaningful way again.