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Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020

Tuesday, 23 June 2020

Questions (387)

Holly Cairns

Question:

387. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if it will be ensured that all grants and supports are accessible by businesses which operate on offshore islands (details supplied). [12655/20]

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Written answers

The unprecedented circumstances of the COVID19 global pandemic has resulted in a swiftly evolving landscape for enterprises. The Government will continue to use all available tools at its disposal to support businesses and ensure their survival. In that context, I will keep the supports provided under review and continue to support enterprises as they work through the challenges facing them. Full details on all supports are available at: https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/.

This package is a significant step-up in the supports available for all businesses in all sectors at this very difficult time. The measures have been developed to meet the varying needs of Irish enterprise and they are very specifically targeted by size, sector and need and are targeted at vulnerable but viable companies.

The Restart Grant support is just one part of the wider €12bn package of supports for firms of all sizes, which includes the wage subsidy scheme, the pandemic unemployment payment for the self-employed, grants, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities, all of which will help to improve cashflow amongst SMEs.

In terms of off-shore Gaeltacht areas, an additional allocation of €0.6m has been provided by the Department of Communications, Climate and the Environment and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for the trading on-line voucher scheme which will help the move towards online trading. The aim of the scheme is to get more small businesses trading online and as a consequence reaching new markets, growing their business, employing more people and exporting more.

Since 2009 Enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta have an agreed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in place. The purpose of the MOU is to strengthen the level of collaboration between the two agencies. Under the MOU, both agencies have a close level of collaboration so that clients of Údarás in need of services available from Enterprise Ireland (which are not available from Údarás) and who meet the same eligibility criteria as Enterprise Ireland clients, will be treated by Enterprise Ireland on the same basis as Enterprise Ireland clients. Consequently, Covid 19 business supports and initiatives are available to all Údarás clients.

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