Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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220. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications that have been received for the enterprise support grant from businesses in County Cavan; the number that have been successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38642/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Enterprise Support Grant (ESG) is available to eligible self-employed recipients who close their Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and re-start their business. A grant of up to €1,000 is available under this measure to assist with the costs associated with reopening a business.

This grant is available to self-employed individuals who satisfy the scheme conditions including, employing fewer than 10 people, having an annual turnover of less than €1 million and not being liable for commercial rates. This grant is available for micro enterprises that are not eligible for other similar COVID business re-start grants from other Government Departments.

I have recently extended the grant to make it available to those who claimed the grant in 2020 but who found themselves back on the PUP in 2021. The opportunity of a second grant, worth up to €1,000 applies to all eligible self-employed recipients who close their PUP on or after 1 June 2021.

Over 9,370 ESG applications have been approved since the introduction of this grant, with in excess of €8.7m paid to small businesses. This information is not maintained on a county basis.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.