Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 November 2020
17. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the restart grant or additional business supports can be extended to a business (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33964/20]
View answerThe July Stimulus introduced significant measures to help support tourism businesses to recover following the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. In addition to the Restart Grant Plus scheme for B&Bs, some of the key measures for tourism and hospitality include the “Stay and Spend” initiative, the €26 million adaptation grant, the €10 million grant for coach tourism. Tourism enterprises also benefit from wider horizontal supports announced in Budget 2021.
As part of Budget 2021, the New COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), operated through Revenue from 13 October 2020, 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 month.
The Government has extended the wage subsidy scheme, which will now run until 2021 and has also improved eligibility criteria for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
The Government 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.
The Microenterprise Assistance Fund is also available from Local Enterprise Offices for businesses which were not eligible for the COVID-19 Restart/Restart Plus Grant or similar COVID-19 business restart grants from other Government Departments.
Self-catering businesses are a crucial and valued part of our national tourism industry and Fáilte Ireland is committed to helping these businesses safely and successfully return to business. In this regard, the Fáilte Ireland COVID-19 Business Support Hub (https://covid19.failteireland.ie/) is targeting its supports to respond to the most urgent challenges and threats which tourism businesses are now facing.
I can assure you that I will continue to work with my colleagues across Government and all stakeholders to examine how best to further assist businesses impacted by COVID-19 as part of the forthcoming National Economic Plan.
