Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2021
151. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the operation of the sustaining enterprise fund; the number of jobs it has protected during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22194/21]
View answerMy Department, through Enterprise Ireland (EI), is helping Irish businesses to rebuild after the impact of Covid-19. EI administers the Sustaining Enterprise Fund whose objectives include:
- Ensure eligible companies have access to the necessary liquidity
- Sustain business so that companies can return to viability and contribute to the recovery of the Irish economy.
- Ensure eligible companies can accelerate their recovery
- Provide funding needed to stabilise cashflow, adapt operations and innovate for new customer needs.
Enterprise Ireland is currently processing the 2020 applications received under the Sustaining Enterprise Fund. Approvals made to date, totalling €172,100,500, have helped to sustain 635 companies protecting 26,604 jobs.
Companies across all sectors operating in manufacturing and internationally traded service activities received and are receiving financial assistance under the Sustaining Enterprise Fund (SEF) including engineering, Life Sciences and construction, food and ICT and international services. This includes companies in particularly impacted sectors, including those engaged in food services (food delivery services, bakers, etc.), international education services, travel-tech and consumer-retail.
