Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

117. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way he plans to allocate the €100 million his Department has available for discrete Covid-19 measures in 2022. [60818/21]

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

146. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the provision that is being made by his Department in 2022 for Covid-19 related measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60793/21]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 146 together.

Budget 2022 provided my Department with €17 million in additional discrete Covid Capital funding for next year. This together with unspent capital appropriations carried over from this year will mean that the Department will have almost €100 million available in 2022 for Covid measures.

Whilst the detail of the programme by programme distribution of this Covid funding will be set out in the Revised Estimates Volume 2022 which will be published shortly, the discrete additional money secured in Budget 2022 will be allocated to specific programmes such as the Covid Products Scheme and the Covid Credit Guarantee Scheme.

The capital appropriations being carried over into next year will also ensure that the Department and our Enterprise Agencies, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, can continue to meet commitments under the various Covid Schemes rolled out to assist business in the fight against Covid such as the Sustaining Enterprise Fund, the Online Retail Scheme, the Covid Credit Guarantee Scheme.

The Deputy will also be aware that in addition to the specific Covid funding provided to Departments, Budget 2022 also set aside contingency funding to allow Government flexibility to respond as required during 2022 should the situation with the virus deteriorate. Whilst the economy has begun to stabilise, I will continue to engage with colleagues across Government to ensure that funding for further supports is available should businesses require them.