Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 December 2020
27. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the direct business financial aid available to companies involved directly and indirectly in tourism transport and whose businesses are closed due to international flight travel restrictions introduced to fight Covid-19. [40587/20]
View answerI am keenly aware that businesses are making a massive sacrifice to protect their communities and I want the Government to offer as much assistance as possible. My Department and its agencies have been focused on coming up with solutions to help businesses overcome the difficulties caused by COVID-19. Details of the wide range of supports available are on my Department’s website at https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/.
The Government’s July Stimulus included €7bn of enterprise measures, including 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. In addition, a find of €10m was made available to assist the Coach Tourism sector. The Coach Tourism Business Continuity Scheme is administered by Fáilte Ireland and was open for applications up to 5th November 2020.
Budget 2021 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. The measures in the Budget include the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme, cash for businesses, low cost loans, commercial rates waivers and deferred tax liabilities.
Budget 2021 included a number of further substantial measures to support and strengthen the tourism sector, such as the provision of an additional €55m in Business Continuity funding to support strategic tourism businesses. This funding will be administered by Fáilte Ireland and focused on those strategic businesses. Fáilte Ireland are currently engaging with those tourism sectors in the design of funding schemes taking into account the effect of other horizontal funding measures.
I continue to work with my colleagues across Government to assist businesses impacted by COVID-19 and to address suitable enterprise measures in the context of the evolving COVID-19 and Brexit challenges to our economy and our people.
