Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2020
457. Deputy Norma Foley asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she will amend the restart grant to include a cohort of businesses and groups that are currently excluded, for example, bed and breakfasts, small bus operators and community centres; and if not, if she will consider introducing a new grant to meet the restart needs of those excluded. [11507/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Restart Grant support is just one part of the wider €12bn package of supports for commercial firms of all sizes, which includes the wage subsidy scheme, grants, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities, all of which will help those businesses to continue trading and to maintain employment.
To avail of the Restart Grant, applicants must be a commercial business and be in the Local Authorities’ Commercial Rates Payment System, and:
- have a turnover of less than €5m and have 50 or less employees.
- have suffered a projected 25%+ loss in revenue from 1 April 2020 to 30th June 2020.
- commit to remain open or to reopen if it was closed.
- declare the intention to retain employees that are benefitting from the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS).
The primary objective, therefore, is to get funding into small businesses that:
- Are reliant solely on local trading income;
- Are financially independent from any group structure;
- Have suffered significant financial losses;
- Have had to bear ongoing fixed costs or faced costs associated with re-opening the business;
- Provide local paid employment.
In that context, sporting and community organisations are not eligible because they are not primarily commercial organisations and have sources of income other than commercial sales for example, membership fees.
On Friday 8th May, my colleagues Michael Ring TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development and Seán Canney TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development, announced the launch of a €40 million package of supports for Community and Voluntary Organisations, Charities and Social Enterprises. The package includes a €35 million ‘COVID-19 Stability Fund’ which will provide a level of support to qualifying organisations who are most in need and have seen their trading and/or fundraising income drop significantly during the crisis.
Regarding any further targeted supports specifically aimed at the tourism sector, my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has formed a dedicated Tourism Recovery Taskforce, made up of leaders from varying sections of the industry, who will work together to deal with the many challenges ahead in a dynamic and innovative manner. It has been tasked with identifying measures required to enable Irish tourism to recover from the devastating effects of Covid-19.
For a full list of supports for business please see https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/.
