Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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20. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports that are available to businesses that missed the deadline for the small business assistance scheme for COVID; and if he will consider allowing businesses to apply for this important grant after the closing date. [42191/21]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The Government recognises the sacrifices business owners, employees and their families have made over the past 18 months in order to protect their community from COVID-19. As you are aware, the Government put in place a comprehensive package to help businesses and workers during the pandemic. These business supports were unprecedented.

The Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC) has now closed and there are no plans for a further SBASC scheme as the economy reopens and restrictions are lifted. It is not possible at this stage to accept late applications.

However, the Business Resumption Support Scheme (BRSS) administered by the Revenue Commissioners is now accepting applications from eligible business. Applications under the scheme may be made between early September 2021 and 30 November 2021.

Further details of this scheme is available on www.revenue.ie.

The Governments comprehensive business support package includes low-cost loans, the deferral and warehousing of tax liabilities and the waiver of commercial rates. Details of the wide range of COVID-19 schemes are available on my Department’s website at enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/.

I would also encourage business owners to talk to their Local Enterprises Offices who offer advice and guidance in relation to the supports available to businesses.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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21. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of requests for appeals in respect of the restart grant plus scheme for Covid-19 when the closing date was abruptly introduced; the number of appeals and the estimated quantum value of the appeals by county together with the number of appeals and the quantum of amounts that were approved on appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42217/21]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The Restart Grant scheme was launched in May 2020 and was live on all Local Authority websites. It was advertised extensively both nationally and locally as well as across social media. The Scheme was initially intended to provide grants in tandem with the phased re-opening of the economy as per the Government’s Roadmap. As the Roadmap was accelerated, so too was the scheme available to all eligible businesses and sectors.

The numbers of applications nationally had begun to taper off as we considered introducing an expanded Restart Scheme with higher grant levels. As the Government decided to introduce the higher grant levels, to the benefit of a much larger group of businesses, it was decided to end the original scheme. The Restart Grant Plus Scheme was launched in August 2020, with increased minimum and maximum grants available to a larger cohort of businesses.

Businesses, for whichever reason, that were unable to apply for the original Restart Grant scheme were entitled to submit an appeal to their Local Authority. In this context it is important to note that for the purposes of the Restart Grant and Restart Grant Plus schemes, each Local Authority was the decision-making body and the appeals body, so individual appeals were directed in the first instance to their respective Local Authority, noting the circumstances/reasons for the particular appeal.

I can advise the Deputy that, of the total 123,380 applications for the Restart Schemes operated by the 31 Local Authorities on behalf of my Department, 108,634 applications were approved and paid. 14,746 were not approved.  The funding provided to each Local Authority for the appeals is set out below by Local Authority area in tabular format, along with a breakdown by Local Authority area of the €633.2 million approved in grant assistance to eligible businesses.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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22. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on previous and upcoming scheduled meetings with the play and leisure industry to discuss the need for ongoing business supports due to the Covid-19 pandemic and plans to reopen the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42228/21]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I and officials in my Department have continued to engage with various sectors throughout this pandemic to assess the optimal supports required. The Government have provided a comprehensive package to help businesses during the pandemic, details of the ongoing supports can be found here: Government supports for COVID-19 impacted businesses - DETE (enterprise.gov.ie).

A new Economic Recovery Plan was announced in June, with €4 billion of stimulus to fuel the economy and businesses to recover and rebuild. The Plan also outlined a number of changes to the current financial supports as public health restrictions unwind, assuring that the CRSS will remain in place for businesses that have to stay closed. The EWSS is being extended until the end of 2021, the commercial rates waiver will continue during the third quarter of this year for those availing of it, the 9% VAT rate was extended until the 1 September 2022, tax warehousing is being extended until the end of the year and will be interest free in 2022.

A new Business Resumption Support Scheme, administered by Revenue, has commenced this week for businesses with significantly reduced turnover as a result of public health restrictions, the details of which are available on the Revenue website.

As the Deputy is aware, the Government have agreed Ireland’s plan for the next and final phase response to the COVID-19 pandemic COVID-19: Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting. During the period between 1 September and 22 October, the gradual approach to reopening will continue, you will note from this publication that indoor play centres may open from the 20th of September.

Subject to the continuation of this progress, we will enter a final phase on 22 October, which will see the majority of restrictions lifted and replaced by guidance and advice.

I would urge business owners to seek the supports outlined on my Department’s website if they have not already done so.