Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021
187. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports available to SMEs that opened from the beginning of January 2020 and that are now temporarily closed under the current lockdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15505/21]
View answerI am acutely aware of the difficulties that these necessary ongoing Covid-19 restrictions are putting on all businesses right across the country. Business owners are making sacrifices in order to protect their communities.
With that in mind, I recently announced the new Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID. This scheme is now open for applications through Local Authorities and will provide a €4,000 grant for businesses for the first quarter of this year. Closing date for Local Authorities to receive applications is 21st April, 2021. A decision on the second quarter of this year will be made in due course.
A business that started in business in January 2020 and is eligible based on the criteria may apply to their Local Authorities.
The Scheme is open to companies, self-employed, sole traders or partnerships, with a minimum turnover of €50,000 and are not owned and operated by a public body. The Scheme is open to firms that currently employ less than 250 and with current turnover of less than €25m.
Businesses down 75% or more in turnover among those expected to benefit the scheme. The scheme is available to businesses not eligible for CRSS, the Fáilte Ireland Business Continuity Scheme, or the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media’s Live Performance Support.
The business must operate from a building, or similar fixed physical structure on which business rates are payable (mobile premises, or premises which are not permanently fixed in place, do not meet the definition of business premises nor do premises on which no rates are payable).
The turnover of the business over the claim period is estimated to be no more than 25% of the average weekly turnover of the business in 2019; or the projected average weekly turnover of the business for 1 January to 31 March 2021, for businesses that commenced after 1 November 2020.
The Government also introduced a comprehensive package to help businesses and workers during the pandemic, including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), the COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC), low-cost loans, the deferral and warehousing of tax liabilities and the waiver of commercial rates.
I would urge business owner to seek the supports outlined above if they have not already done so. I would also suggest that a business owner should contact their Local Enterprise Office and they can signpost and advise on supports that maybe available.
The schemes are there to help meet fixed costs that cannot be avoided and to provide basic weekly income support up to maximum of €350 per week. They are not created to provide compensation for loss of personal income above this level or compensation for loss of profits for any sector.
Full details of the wide range of COVID-19 schemes are available on my Department’s website at https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/.
I want to assure you that I and my colleagues across Government will continue to keep the range of measures under review.
