Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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42. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of funding allocated to local authority supports schemes by his Department, including the restart grant, the restart grant plus, and the small business assistance scheme for Covid-19 in the years 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1730/23]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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During the Covid 19 pandemic, the Government introduced necessary COVID pandemic restrictions to protect our community. The Government was not found wanting during this period of time and recognised the difficulties businesses were having and subsequently introduced Government business support schemes.

The Restart Grant Scheme and the successor Restart Grant Plus Scheme launched in May 2020 and closed for applications on 31^stOctober 2020. The 31 Local Authorities who operated the scheme received a total of 123,185 applications, of which 108,489 were successful. Overall Scheme cost was €632.4m, allocated to the Scheme in 2020.

SBASC Phase 1 and Phase 2 opened and closed in 2021. The total figure spent of the SBASC scheme through the Local Authorities was €20.97million in 2021. There were 5,500 successful applications.

In addition to these schemes, the Local Authorities are also granting authorities for the Local Enterprise Office supports to small businesses, which are funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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43. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of funding allocated to the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland supports by his Department, including the Covid-19 working capital scheme, the future growth loan scheme, and the Covid-19 credit guarantee scheme in the years 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1731/23]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The following payments were made in 2021 and 2022 by my Department, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) for Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) SME loan schemes.

These payments were made to the SBCI and the European Investment Bank Group (EIBG) by DETE for delivery of the SME loan schemes. The schemes are also underpinned by funds allocated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine(DAFM). Also resources of the EIBG have been provided for the SME loan schemes listed other than the Credit Guarantee Schemes. The DETE payments include management fees to the SBCI and where applicable the EIBG to administer the schemes, and a first loss provision to meet the cost of loan defaults to the SBCI and EIBG. If losses on the schemes, other than the Credit Guarantee Schemes, due to defaulting loans are less than modelled, then there may be a return of a potentially significant portion of the allocated funds to the Exchequer.

Brexit Loan Scheme/Covid-19 Working Capital Scheme

The Brexit Loan Scheme (BLS), made up to €337.5m in lending available to eligible businesses exposed to then current or future impacts arising from the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. Loans available under the Brexit Loan Scheme range from €25,000 to €1.5 million and are for terms of up to three years. Loans were offered at favourable terms, including a maximum interest rate of 4% and no security on loans of up to €500,000. The Brexit Loan Scheme closed in October 2021, with the launch of the Brexit Impact Loan Scheme which took account of the subsequent impact of the Covid Pandemic. The final drawdown of lending through the BLS scheme was 292 loans to a total value of €57.5m.

In the early stages of the pandemic, a proportion of the funding available under the Brexit Loan Scheme was made available to COVID-19-impacted businesses through the COVID-19 Working Capital Scheme (‘the CWCS’). Loans under this scheme are similar to those offered under the Brexit Loan Scheme, but to businesses seeking to innovate, change or adapt in response to the pandemic. The Covid-19 Working Capital Scheme closed in July 2021. The final drawdown of lending through this scheme was 948 loans to a total value of €118.5m.

The Future Growth Loan Scheme (FGLS)

The Future Growth Loan Scheme (FGLS) was first launched in June 2019 to provide an option for SMEs and small mid-caps to access appropriate finance for investment purposes. The scheme initially provided for up to €300m in long-term lending, however in July of 2020 it was expanded by €500m to make a total of €800m available through participating financial providers. The scheme is operated by the SBCI and is funded by DETE and the DAFM. All the participating lenders are now closed to new applications under the FGLS indicating that they are of the view that they have received sufficient applications to use their full allocation under the scheme. Final use of allocations to participating finance providers may be impacted by decisions on loan approval and customer decisions to draw or not draw the approved loans. As of 9^thJanuary 2023, there have been 3,513 loans progressed to sanction under the scheme, to a total value of €773.9m.

Brexit Impact Loan Scheme/Covid Loan Scheme

In October 2021, the DETE together with the DAFM launched the Brexit Impact Loan Scheme (BILS), to support SME and small mid-cap businesses (including those in the farming and fishing sectors) that have been affected by the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. Loans under this scheme range from €25,000 to €1.5m and are for terms of up to six years. Loans of up to €500,000 are available unsecured. The Brexit Impact Loan Scheme closed to new applications on 31^stDecember 2022. As of 9^thJanuary 2023, there have been 2,010 loans progressed to sanction under the scheme, to a total value of €279.5m

To ensure that an appropriate option for access to finance remained in place for COVID-19 impacted SMEs, the Brexit Impact Loan Scheme (BILS) was widened by Government to allow access to COVID-19 impacted SMEs. The implementation of this change resulted in the launch of a new scheme called the Covid-19 Loan Scheme (CLS) on the 4th of July 2022. The Covid-19 Loan Scheme closed to new applications on 31^stDecember 2022. As of 9^thJanuary 2023, there have been 291 loans progressed to sanction under the scheme, to a total value of €30.5m.

Credit Guarantee Scheme/Covid Credit Guarantee Scheme

The Covid-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme, which operated in accordance with the European Commission’s Temporary Framework on state aid rules in response to the Covid-19 emergency, was launched in September 2020 and closed to new lending after 30 June 2022 following the expiration of the Temporary framework. 9857 loans with a total value for €708.8m were drawn by businesses under the Covid-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme. Schemes operating under the Credit Guarantee Act are based on contingent liability. There is no cost to the State unless loans remain unpaid for more than 90 days and the finance provider calls on the guarantee for 80% of the outstanding balance. Departmental funds were allocated to this scheme to pay claims to finance providers under the State guarantee in respect of defaulted loans and administration costs incurred by the SBCI in operating the scheme and other costs such as legal advice and legal services.

Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme

The ‘Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme’ (GSLS) is a new long-term loan guarantee scheme that is being jointly developed by the DETE and the DAFM in partnership with the SBCI and the EIBG. It is planned that the GSLS will be launched in the market in the first half of 2023.

When implemented, the GSLS will make up to €500 million in longer-term lending available to SMEs, including farmers and fishers and small mid-caps. Up to 70% of lending will be for strategic investments with a view to increasing productivity and competitiveness and thus underpinning future business sustainability and growth. The GSLS will also target a minimum of 30% of the lending volume towards environmental sustainability purposes.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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44. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of funding allocated to Enterprise Ireland supports, including the ready for customs grant, the online customs insights course and the Brexit advisory clinics, in the years 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1732/23]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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While our trading relationship with the UK has now changed and is presenting new challenges, nevertheless the UK still remains an important market for our exporters.Enterprise Ireland continues to provide assistance to enterprises under initiatives supported by the Brexit Adjustment Reserve to help companies deal with some of the additional costs and to maintain and enhance their competitiveness as they continue to trade with the UK as a Third country.

The expenditure made by Enterprise Ireland under various Brexit related offers in 2021 and 2022 is presented in the table below.