Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
372. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to provide a Covid-19 restart grant type of payment to the bed and breakfast sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11957/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Restart Grant support is just one part of the wider €12bn package of Government supports for firms of all sizes, which includes the wage subsidy scheme, the pandemic unemployment payment for the self-employed, grants, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities, all of which will help to improve cashflow amongst SMEs.
To qualify for the €250m Restart Grant, a business must be in a rateable premises and;
- have a turnover of less than €5m and have 50 or less employees.
- have suffered a projected 25%+ loss in revenue from 1st April 2020 to 30th June 2020.
- commit to remain open or to reopen if it was closed.
- The business must also declare the intention to retain employees that are benefitting from the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS).
Full details on all COVID19 supports for business are available at: https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/
Regarding any further targeted supports specifically aimed at the tourism sector, I welcome the announcement by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport of 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.
The group is chaired by Ruth Andrews, CEO of the Irish Tour Operators Association. Other members include travel writer Eoghan Corry, CEO of Fáilte Ireland Paul Kelly, Niall Gibbons, CEO Tourism Ireland, Stephen Kavanagh, board member and former CEO of Aer Lingus and Martin Dalby, CEO of Center Parcs.
