The Restart Grant Plus was introduced as part of the response to the effects on business of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The Scheme has been operated by the 31 Local Authorities on behalf of my Department, and closed to new applications on 31 October 2020. It was replaced as part of Budget 2021 with the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) operated by the Revenue Commissioners.
As of week ending 27 November 2020, the Restart Grant Plus had received 63,324 applications, of which 56,398 have to date been approved for grants, to a value of €414,394,078. Of those grants approved, 53,301 have been paid, with a further 3,097 in progress. A total of 5,962 have been rejected, and 964 applications were received but not yet approved.
My Department does not have a role in individual applications and therefore, does not collate or hold information relating to individual cases. In response to the Deputy’s question, within the timescale and resources available to the Local Authorities, the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) who coordinate and oversee the Local Authority Restart activity, have advised a number of Local Authorities have reported having sought/received return of Grants. However, as appeals are ongoing by the Local Authority network and in some cases grants are being returned voluntarily by businesses, for example in the case where a business failed to reopen or moved to an alternative building, we do not as yet have final figures as to amounts returned.
The Restart Grant Plus Scheme has been made available to a wide range of businesses and delivered in exceptionally challenging circumstances. All applications have been considered in line with clearly established eligibility criteria by the relevant officials, aiming to put this enterprise measure in place for as many eligible businesses as possible, and an appeals mechanism is in place with each Local Authority on foot of decisions made in processing and finalising grants.
