Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020
82. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the supports available to a self-employed taxi driver impacted by Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15827/20]
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.
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.
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 can assure the Deputy that I will continue to work with my colleagues across Government and all stakeholders to examine further assistance to businesses impacted by Covid-19.
As Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment I am leading on the development of the July stimulus and together with Ministerial colleagues I will be ensuring we deepen and widen the impact of assistance to businesses to remain open and to sustain jobs.
My colleague, Minister Eamon Ryan T.D., Minister for Transport, may be able to provide more specific guidance on supports designed to suit the transport sector, including taxi providers.
