Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020
204. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if industry specific supports have been considered for those who rely heavily on weddings as their primary source of income (details supplied). [32319/20]
View answerI recognise the important role that the wedding professionals sector play in helping couples with the arrangements for their special day and how they are part of the events and hospitality ecosystem in the country, enabling buyers and sellers to meet and develop their businesses. I am acutely aware of the difficulties the sector has faced in recent months due to public health restrictions.
The Government's COVID-19 plan published in September, 'Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19' specifically recognises the impact of restrictions on weddings as a category of organised events. I am pleased that Fáilte Ireland has developed guidelines that can be used for the organisation of wedding functions and are available on Fáilte Ireland’s COVID-19 Business Support Hub at: www.failteireland.ie
My Department and its agencies have been focussed on coming up with solutions to help businesses overcome the challenges presented by the unprecedented difficulties caused by COVID-19. Details of the wide range of supports available are noted on my Department’s website at https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/.
In the wider context of the Government’s Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19, the operation and reopening of Ireland's economy and society will be guided by the need to manage risk and repair the damage that COVID-19 has inflicted on society, and on the implementation of appropriate measures to do so across business and society as the situation evolves.
Budget 2021 provides a significant package of tax and expenditure measures to build the resilience of the economy and to help vulnerable but viable businesses across all sectors. The measures in the Budget are in addition to those announced in the July Stimulus Package, including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), the Restart Grant Plus, cash for businesses, low cost loans, commercial rates waivers and deferred tax liabilities.
The New Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), is now operational through Revenue and offers a targeted, timely and temporary sector-specific support to businesses forced to close or trade at significantly reduced levels due to COVID of up to €5,000 per week.
We have also announced a six-month reduction in the VAT, going down from 23% to 21%, a reduction in the 13.5% VAT rate to 9% which will benefit the hospitality sector, together with a range of additional public capital investment measures to support the domestic economy.
As a result of the fact that businesses have to close, we are making changes to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and the EWSS. The new payment structure for the PUP includes the increase in the top rate to €350 for those who were earning in excess of €400 per week. This change to payment rates will apply in respect of all existing and new applicants.
The EWSS is also being amended to align with the amendment to PUP, with the top payment increasing to €350 for those earning over €400.
We are providing more and cheaper loan finance through MicroFinance Ireland, SBCI and the new €2bn Credit Guarantee Scheme. I announced the reopening of MFI lending on 31st August and I launched the €2bn Credit Guarantee Scheme on 7th September. We are giving companies extra assistance through an enhanced Restart Plus grant of up to €25,000.
These measures are supplementary to the wide range of existing loan and voucher schemes available to assist businesses affected by COVID-19 provided through the July Jobs Stimulus and other Government initiatives. My colleague, Minister Catherine Martin T.D., Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, may be able to provide more specific details on a roadmap to recovery for the events and hospitality industry, for which she has lead responsibility.
