Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 June 2021
102. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if restart grants will be provided for the hospitality industry in advance of the reopening of the sector to assist with cashflow issues that most businesses in this sector are facing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30025/21]
View answerThe financial support the Government is providing small businesses and workers affected by the pandemic is unprecedented. These supports include the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and the Employment Wage Subsidy (EWSS). Support for business includes the weekly Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) of payment for businesses forced to close their doors to the public, the Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC), the lower Tourism VAT rate of 9% further extended to September 2022, a commercial rates waiver extended in its current form for another three months, the Sustaining Enterprise Fund, the Tourism Business Continuity Scheme as well as low-cost loans. Information on the wide range of supports can be found on my Department’s website https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/.
Government is in no doubt how important the COVID supports such as the EWSS and CRSS have been to businesses and the role played by grant schemes such as the Restart Grants, SBASC and the various sectoral supports administered by relevant Departments.
The CRSS has provided vital support to businesses that have been forced to close or restrict access to their premises on foot of public health regulations. The CRSS has been extended until the end of 2021 and enhanced with a significantly higher restart payment – three weeks at double rate of payment (to a maximum of €30,000).
Further targeted supports have also been introduced including a new additional Business Resumption Support Scheme from September for businesses with significantly reduced turnover.
I am acutely aware of the difficulties SME's continue to face due to this pandemic and that is why I have expanded the SBASC scheme which will now take into account businesses who do not pay rates and also businesses that have a turnover below €50,000. Phase 2 of this scheme will be open for applications in early June, with a closing date of 21st July. Further details of the scheme including all eligibility criteria will shortly be available on my Department's website www.enterprise.gov.ie and on Local Authority websites.
We are committed to the economic recovery of the country and work is ongoing across Government to ensure the supports which will be in place are sufficient, targeted and sustainable. The National Recovery Plan will chart the pathway forward for our country.
My colleague, Minister Catherine Martin T.D., Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, may be able to provide more specific details on these supports for the hospitality sector, for which she has lead responsibility.
