Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 May 2020
403. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she will work with the Minister for Health to formulate an action plan to safeguard the future of the dental profession and introduce measures (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7150/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is acutely aware of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic across all segments of society and business. In order to assist businesses to address the challenges posed by COVID-19, the Government has put in place a comprehensive suite of supports for firms of all sizes, which includes the wage subsidy scheme, grants, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities. These supports are designed to build confidence, to further assist businesses in terms of the management of their companies and to allow them to begin looking to the future and start charting a path forward for weeks and months ahead. For a full list of supports for business please see https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/.
On 8th May the Government agreed details of a further support which will give direct grant aid to micro and small businesses to help them with the costs associated with reopening and re-employing workers following COVID-19 closures. The Restart Grant is available to businesses with a turnover of less than €5m and employing 50 people or less, which were closed or impacted by at least a 25% reduction in turnover out to 30th June 2020. It is a contribution towards the cost of re-opening or keeping a business operational and re-connecting with employees and customers. The grant is equivalent to the rates bill of the business in 2019, with a minimum payment of €2,000 and a maximum payment of €10,000.
Applications for the Restart Grant can be made online directly to local authorities and further information is available on the application form. If there are queries that are not addressed on the application form, businesses can contact the Business Support Unit in each local authority.
All information including the application form is available on the appropriate local authority website, the details of which are at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/942f74-local-authorities/.
As the Deputy is aware, policy responsibility for the dental profession rests with my colleague, the Minister for Health, Simon Harris T.D. and elements of the measures proposed by the Deputy fall within the remits of other Government colleagues, namely the Minister for Finance, Pascal Donohoe T.D. and the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty T.D. I can assure the Deputy that I am working closely with all colleagues across Government to get businesses ready to reopen and trade again, to get people back to work and to get the economy re-started as the restrictions are gradually lifted in line with public health advice.
