Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2020
346. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the supports being considered for businesses in the autumn and winter months of 2020, when queuing outside will not be possible due to weather conditions; the engagement that has taken place with local authorities in relation to same; and the local authorities with which there has been engagement. [12696/20]
View answerThe National Return to Work Safely Protocol is a useful guide for businesses in making their assessments and adapting their workplace procedures and practices to comply fully with the COVID-19 related public health protection measures. It sets out in very clear terms for employers and employees the steps that they must take firstly before a workplace reopens, and then while it continues to operate. The Protocol is available at https://dbei.gov.ie/en/Publications/Return-to-Work-Safely-Protocol.html
The Health and Safety Authority, which is an agency of my Department, is the lead agency in overseeing compliance with the National Return to Work Safely Protocol in the workplace. If employers or employees need further guidance on the Protocol, the HSA Helpline can be contacted at 1890 289 389 or wcu@hsa.ie.
The National Standards Authority of Ireland’s (NSAI) published 'COVID-19 Workplace Protection and Improvement Guide', which is available at www.nsai.ie/covid-19workplaceprotection/, ‘Covid-19 Retail Protection and Improvement Guide' which is available at www.nsai.ie/covid-19retailprotection/ and ‘Covid-19 Shopping Centre Recovery and Protection Guide’ www.nsai.ie/COVID-19ShoppingCentreProtection/ which gives practical ‘how to’ guidance for Shopping Centre Management teams in implementing the mandatory Return to Work Safely Protocol in a shopping centre environment. These Guides contain useful 'how to' information that can be applied across many businesses.
I understand from my colleague the Minister for Transport that the National Transport Authority (NTA) is engaging with local authorities to support them in the development of COVID mobility plans and importantly to also support the local authorities in their delivery of required infrastructure improvements. Dublin City Council (DCC) and the NTA have already published a framework of proposals to address the new and urgent needs relating to commercial activity and mobility in Dublin City Centre. As we move through the phases of the Government's Roadmap to Reopening Society and Business, improvements introduced under these plans will play an important role in providing additional transport capacity and also facilitating social distancing in urban areas.
The NTA has written to all 31 local authorities to offer its financial and technical support and this support will be funded through the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport’s sustainable mobility investment programme. The NTA envisages a range of measures may be required in our cities and towns, such as:
- Widening of footpaths to facilitate queuing outside shops and enable social distancing;
- Potential pedestrianisation of some streets where necessary and feasible to accommodate social distancing, particularly where this supports business activities;
- Potential one-way systems to create space for footpath widening;
- Altering traffic signal times to reduce pedestrian waiting/crowding plus the automatic activation of some pedestrian phases in order to aid pedestrian movement and to minimise contact with signal push buttons;
- Providing additional temporary facilities for cyclists; and
- Provision of some external space where appropriate to support business activities.
I understand that some local authorities have already put improvements in place to facilitate increased active travel and it is expected these improvements will continue in the coming weeks and months.
Also, the former Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring T.D. has recently announced a new €15 million call under the Department's Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2020 which has been tailored to address the emerging challenges associated with COVID-19. This means:
A focus under the standard Town and Village Renewal Scheme on interventions that can respond to the new challenges associated with COVID-19 and support the economic and social recovery of rural towns and villages;
The introduction of a new strand of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme for 2020 that focuses on immediate interventions that can be delivered in the short-term to assist towns and villages to adapt to COVID-19.
Full details of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2020 can be found at www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/01125e-town-and-village-renewal-scheme/.
In order to assist businesses to address the challenges posed by COVID-19, the Government has put in place a comprehensive suite of supports for firms of all sizes, which includes the restart grant (to help small businesses with the costs associated with reopening and reemploying workers following COVID-19 closures), wage subsidy scheme, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities. These supports are designed to build confidence, to further assist businesses in terms of the management of their companies and to allow them to begin looking to the future and start charting a path forward for weeks and months ahead.
The Restart Grant gives direct grant aid to micro and small businesses to help them with the costs associated with reopening and reemploying workers following COVID-19 closures. The Grant will be available to businesses with a turnover of less than €5m and employing 50 people or less, which were closed or impacted by at least a 25% reduction in turnover out to 30 June 2020. The grants will be equivalent to the rates bill of the business in 2019, or a minimum grant of €2,000, whichever is the higher, with a maximum grant of €10,000. Businesses who are in arrears or have not yet paid their 2019 rates bill will still be eligible to apply for the grant.
Trading online is a very important route for retail businesses to trade throughout the pandemic and grow and improve their business in the current crisis and will be an important element in their recovery over the longer term.
My Department has intensified its digitalisation supports to retail and other businesses to better position them for the omnichannel world and increase their productivity though an expansion of the Trading Online Voucher Scheme (TOVS) for micro-businesses and the dedicated Online Retail Scheme for retailers with 10 or more employees. Both Schemes are experiencing unprecedented high levels of demand.
I recognise the impact that this pandemic is having on businesses right across the country. My Department contributed to the considerations around the phased re-opening of sectors and I will work within Government to secure further details and clarity for businesses as we progress through the phases outlined in the Roadmap.
For a full list of supports for business please see https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/.
Finally, it is important that all businesses check www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/c36c85-covid-19-coronavirus/ for the latest information, public health advice and guidelines from Government in relation to Covid-19.
