Louise O'Reilly
Question:148. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there has been abuse of State Covid-19 supports by businesses. [60805/21]
View answerThursday, 9 December 2021
Questions (148)
Written answers
The Government has worked to support businesses through these challenging times with a wide range of measures for firms of all sizes, which includes the wage subsidy scheme, business continuity and trading online grants, Restart Grants, COVID-19 Working Capital Scheme, the COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme, the Future Growth Loan Scheme, commercial rates waivers and warehousing of tax liabilities. Details of the supports can be found on my Department’s website: Government supports for COVID-19 impacted businesses - DETE (enterprise.gov.ie). I also publish a update table on the uptake of the range of advisory and finance schemes on my Department's website.
On 3rd December the Government agreed some additional public health measures to help to reduce the spread of COVID-19 including extra economic supports approved for sectors impacted by public health measures.
We recognise that these decisions, coming in addition to those of 16th November, will have a particular impact on sectors such as hospitality, the night time economy, and the arts and entertainment sectors.
In addition to existing economy-wide schemes, including the Employee Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), which will remain in place at current rates of payment and qualification criteria, the Minister for Finance is introducing a new scheme for businesses in the hospitality sector that are subject to restrictions on operating.
This will adjust the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) to support businesses whose trade is significantly impacted and which are subject to regulatory restrictions on operating. This will involve a weekly payment of payment of 12% of turnover for qualifying businesses. Further details will be provided by the Department of Finance.
There will also be a further extension of the current targeted commercial rates waiver for the first quarter of 2022. This will be put in place at an additional cost of approximately €62.3 million.
The Government has also agreed to a limited reopening of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment for workers who are temporarily laid off due to the impact of these public health restrictions. There will be a number of refinements to the scheme design to target it more effectively. Further details will be made available by the Department of Social Protection.
While we are responding to a very dynamic situation to address the challenge of getting the right assistance to firms and workers at the right time, all schemes of my Department and agencies include appropriate governance and oversight in the administration of advisory and funding schemes. My officials are currently in the process of preparing audits of the Restart and SBASC schemes.
I would urge businesses to ensure that they are aware of what is available to them and apply for the appropriate schemes. It is important to note that all business supports are being kept under review to ensure that they are timely and target those that need them the most.