Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 December 2020
135. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports in place to support second line supply businesses such as fish suppliers, florists and other food producers whose businesses have been decimated by level 5 closures and do not qualify for the CRSS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40174/20]
View answerI am keenly aware that businesses are making a massive sacrifice to protect their communities and I am committed to ensuring that the Government will offer as much assistance and support as possible. My Department has worked to ensure that appropriate supports are in place for businesses that require finance as they develop their response to their exposure to impacts arising from COVID-19. The uptake of these supports has been robust and indicates that businesses are taking action in response to this period of disruption.
Budget 2021 also provides a significant package of tax and expenditure measures to build the resilience of the economy and to help self-employed and vulnerable but viable businesses across all sectors, including second line supply businesses. We are providing for an extension of the tax warehousing scheme to include repayments of Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme funds owed by employers and preliminary tax obligations for adversely affected businesses.
To ensure that all self-employed taxpayers can benefit from the losses provision introduced in the July Stimulus, we are also providing that debt warehousing provisions be extended to include the 2019 balance and 2020 preliminary tax to allow such taxpayers to defer payment for a period of a year with no interest applying.
The Minister for Finance is also delivering on the Programme for Government commitment to equalise the Earned Income Credit with the PAYE credit by raising it by €150 to €1,650.
These measures are in addition to the July Stimulus €7bn package of enterprise measures, which includes the Wage Subsidy Scheme extended through 2021, the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, grants, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities, all of which will help to improve cashflow amongst second line support businesses. COVID-19 Business Loans up to €25,000 are available through Microfinance Ireland. The loans can range from €5,000 to €25,000.
The newly revamped Enterprise Support Grant has reopened applications of up to €1,000 for self-employed recipients exiting the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, as they get back on their feet following COVID-19. This grant is aimed at sole traders who do not pay commercial rates.
Bord Bia is providing a range of supports for impacted food business, including an information hub; training supports; and the introduction of the €1m Covid 19 Response Marketing Package for businesses to accelerate eCommerce and expand marketing activities in the context of rapidly changing trading conditions. Bord Bia continues to support quality assured Irish produce through promotion campaigns and is also supporting food companies to re-orient their produce to meet the needs of retail customers, and to explore any import substitution opportunities. My colleague, Charlie McConalogue, TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, may be able to provide more specific guidance on supports for the second line food supply businesses.
I share the Deputy’s concern about businesses that might not be eligible for the CRSS or other measures announced in the budget, such as the €50 million fund for live entertainment. I have asked my officials to conduct work along with officials from the Department of Finance and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, regarding how many businesses might be in this position and to report back to me with proposals.
