The Government previously introduced a 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 among SMEs. Full details on all COVID-19 supports for business are available at: https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/
On July 23rd the Government announced the July Jobs Stimulus, a €7.4bn package of measures designed to stimulate a jobs-led recovery and build economic confidence while continuing to manage the impact of Covid-19. Further details on the July Jobs Stimulus are available at: https://dbei.gov.ie/en/News-And-Events/Department-News/2020/July/23072020.html
The Table below sets out the number of applications for supports received from businesses in County Clare under the various schemes.
Tables of uptake:
Scheme
|
Number of firms / applications
|
Number Processed to date
|
Number of successful applicants
|
Amount allocated
|
Amount Requested
|
Sustaining Enterprise Fund - HPSU
|
<5
|
N/A
|
<5
|
€50,000
|
N/A
|
COVID-19 Business Financial Planning Grant
|
21
|
N/A
|
21 approvals
|
€102,580
|
N/A
|
Lean Business Continuity Support
|
7
|
N/A
|
6 approvals
|
€15,000
|
N/A
|
COVID-19 Online Retail Scheme
|
10
|
N/A
|
7 approvals
|
€233,011
|
N/A
|
Restart Grant
|
1239
|
1161
|
998
|
€5,638,513
|
€3,853,400
|
Business Continuity Grant
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
€2,500
|
€2,500
|
SBCI COVID-19 WCS
|
N/A
|
70
|
12
|
€1,892,000
|
Not available
|
Microfinance Ireland COVID-19 Loan
|
27
|
N/A
|
13
|
€396,000
|
Not available
|
E-merge
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
€11,200
|
€11,200
|
Emergency Business Solutions
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
€4,500
|
€4,500
|
Business Continuity Vouchers
|
397
|
397
|
348
|
€677,592
|
Clients applied for a BCV and applications were assessed and approved up to a max. amount of €2,500
|
Trading Online Vouchers
|
302
|
135*
|
167**
|
€417,500
|
|
*Applications currently being processed with clients
**Processed and final approval communicated to clients
The Local Enterprise Office in Clare submitted 12 Micro Finance applications and also provided Covid-19 related Mentoring Support to 246 participants and Training Support to 1,272 participants.
Later this year the Government will set out a National Economic Plan to chart a long term, jobs-led recovery. It will set out how we secure our public finances in a world where we must live with Covid-19, while driving efforts to decarbonise our economy and prepare for the next phase of technological transformation.