Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020
77. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if specific supports are available for travel management companies and travel agencies as a result of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15429/20]
View answerThe Government has introduced a €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. 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/
Any eligible business, including the self-employed, can apply for the following supports. The most appropriate support will depend on the characteristics of the business.
MicroFinance Ireland can provide loans of up to €50,000 as an immediate measure to specifically deal with exceptional circumstances that micro-enterprises – (any business -Sole Trader, Partnership or Limited Company with less than 10 full time employees and annual turnover of up to €2m)- are facing.
Local Enterprise Offices have moved training programmes, workshops and networking meet-ups online, covering areas such as cash management in a crisis, leading your business through COVID-19 and advice for employers impacted by the crisis. Training programmes are free of charge and places can be booked online, through your Local Enterprise Office.
My former colleague, the then Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty announced on 25 June that the Department’s Enterprise Support Grant will be made available to assist self-employed recipients who are exiting the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) scheme with a once-off grant of up to €1,000 to re-start their business. The grant will be payable to self-employed micro enterprises which employ fewer than 10 people, have an annual turnover of less than €1 million and are not eligible for support from the COVID19 Business Restart Grant or other similar business reopening grants.
I am currently reviewing the full range of supports in place to help businesses, together with my Ministerial colleagues, as we prepare the forthcoming Jobs Recovery Plan and I expect an ambitious stimulus package will be announced soon.
I can assure the Deputy that the Government will not be found wanting. Not only must we address the current challenges, but we must also look ahead.
There are some welcome signs of improvement in business activity and the economy. However, sectors that provided significant employment, such as tourism and hospitality, arts and entertainment and other services that rely on social interaction, remain in serious difficulty and their recovery prospects are highly uncertain.
The July Stimulus will seek to help all firms meet the fixed, non-wage costs incurred during lockdown and in re-opening. The July package will also seek to ensure we are best placed to exploit emerging opportunities and attract high value projects with significant economic benefits and to position our economy and firms to meet future challenges. In the near-term, this includes helping companies further in overcoming the challenges of Brexit, but we also need to include measures that build enterprise resilience and help them transition to a low carbon future.
My colleague, Minister Eamon Ryan T.D., Minister for Transport may be able to provide more specific guidance on supports suitable for the travel sector, including the consumer related measure in the COVID-19 Refund Credit Note which was introduced under consumer related legislation, the package travel and travel trade licensing legislation, for which he has lead responsibility.
