Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
376. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if correspondence received from an organisation (details supplied) regarding support for small businesses will receive a response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12029/20]
View answerThe Restart grant is designed to help small and micro commercial enterprises to reopen. The grant is being paid using the Local Authorities Commercial Rates System as the most efficient means of delivery. The grant is the amount of the 2019 rates assessment subject to a minimum grant of €2,000 and a maximum of €10,000.
To qualify for a grant, an eligible business:
- Must have a turnover of less than €5m and have 50 or less employees.
- Must have suffered a projected 25%+ loss in revenue from 1st April 2020 to 30th June 2020.
- Must commit to remain open or to reopen if it was closed.
- Must also declare the intention to retain employees that are benefitting from the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS).
In addition, the grant is aimed at independent and commercially trading enterprises that:
- Are reliant solely on local trading income;
- Are financially independent from any group structure;
- Have suffered significant financial losses;
- Have had to bear ongoing fixed costs or faced costs associated with re-opening the business;
- Provide local paid employment.
The aim is to get these businesses up and running, trading as normally as possible so that they can retain employees.
The Restart Grant support is just one part of the wider €12bn suite of supports for commercial firms of all sizes, which includes grants, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities, all of which will help those businesses to continue trading and to maintain employment.
The unprecedented circumstances of the COVID19 global pandemic has resulted in a swiftly evolving landscape for enterprises. I can assure the Deputy that the Government will continue to use all available tools at its disposal to support businesses and ensure their survival.
Full details on all COVID19 supports for business are available at: https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/
