Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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397. To ask the Minister for Finance if a person (details supplied) can receive a backdated payment for the Covid-19 restrictions support scheme from the original date of their entitlement to the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40489/21]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) is a targeted support for businesses significantly impacted by restrictions introduced by the Government under public health regulations to combat the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The support is available to companies, self-employed individuals and partnerships who carry on a trade or trading activities, the profits from which are chargeable to tax under Case I of Schedule D.

A qualifying business must operate from a business premises located in a region that is subject to restrictions introduced in line with the Government’s Living with COVID-19 Plan. For the purposes of the scheme, a business premises is defined as a building or other similar fixed physical structure from which a business activity is ordinarily carried on.

Revenue has advised me that, to date, no application for the CRSS has been received from the business in question. If the business considers that it meets the overall eligibility criteria for the scheme, it should make an application to Revenue, which can then be considered. Once an application is received and approved, the business will receive weekly payments until it is no longer significantly impacted by public health restrictions.

The legislation requires that a claim must be made no later than eight weeks from the date on which the ‘claim period’ commences. For example, if the business in question made a CRSS claim in respect of the week beginning Monday 26 July 2021, then it would be entitled to payments from 31 May 2021. There is no legislative provision to provide payments for periods earlier than 31 May (i.e. eight weeks).

Revenue has provided extensive guidance on the CRSS which is available on the Revenue website, which may be of assistance to the business in determining whether it meets the eligibility criteria for the scheme.