Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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85. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses in counties Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal that have applied to the small business assistance scheme; the number of same that have received funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43806/21]

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. The Small Business Assistance Scheme for Covid-19 (SBASC), which is administered by the 31 local authorities in every county is in addition to the Government's range of advisory and funding initiatives for business including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), the COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), low-cost loans, the deferral and warehousing of tax liabilities and the waiver of commercial rates.

While these range of measures supported thousands of businesses, we were aware that a small number of businesses needed additional assistance and I pleased that SBASC provided additional help for those that needed it. The total number of Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC) applications for County Sligo is 72 and 67 have been approved for payment. The total number of Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC) applications for County Leitrim is 57, with 23 approved for funding. In relation to County Donegal, the total number of Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC) applications is 288, with 163 approved for funding.

There are a number of reasons why some applicants were not approved for funding by their local authority including businesses not meeting the criteria for reduction in turnover, incomplete application forms or the businesses being in receipt of CRSS or another sectoral scheme.

The Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC) is now closed and eligible business can now apply for the Government's new Business Resumption Support Scheme (BRSS).

My colleague, the Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe TD on 6^thSeptember last announced the launch of the BRSS as a new support scheme for businesses with reduced turnover as a result of public health restrictions, with a maximum payment of €15,000. The BRSS is a general scheme and is open to any businesses whose turnover remains impacted as a result of public health restrictions. Businesses who previously availed of other schemes such and SBASC, the Tourism Business Continuity Scheme and CRSS will be eligible to apply provided they meet the qualifying criteria.

Details of the wide range of COVID-19 schemes are available on my Department’s website at .

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

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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88. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses in County Cork that have availed of the Covid-19 credit guarantee scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43824/21]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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It is just over one year since the Covid-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme (CCGS) was launched. During this time the scheme has provided vital access to finance to 6,592 SME businesses in all parts of the country. The scheme has provided loans of over €431 million to these businesses, many of which are those sectors most impacted by the pandemic such as the wholesale and retail sector, accommodation and food services, and construction. These three sectors alone, account for forty-seven percent of the value of loans drawn.

The scheme is currently available through a range of lenders with three commercial banks, six non-bank lenders and nineteen credit unions offering products under the scheme. This provides competition in the market and ensures a wide range of loan products are available throughout the regions.

As at 2 September, 805 loans with a value of €52,467,034 have been drawn under the CCGS by businesses in County Cork.

In order to provide the public with relevant data on the performance of the scheme, my Department publishes weekly and monthly reports on its website. These reports provide data on loans drawn under a wide variety of themes and are available at

The scheme was developed under the terms of the European Commission’s Temporary Framework on State Aid and is available until 31 December 2021 in line with the Temporary Framework. I would strongly encourage businesses to avail of the low-cost lending facilities in the remaining months of the scheme.