Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2020

Tuesday, 7 July 2020

Ceisteanna (40)

Matt Carthy

Ceist:

40. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if specific supports have been provided to the commercial launderette and dry-cleaning sectors; his plans to provide bespoke assistance to these businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14569/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Government has introduced a €12bn package of supports for firms of all sizes, which includes the temporary 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. 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/

This package is a significant step-up in the supports available for all businesses in all sectors at this very difficult time. The measures have been developed to meet the varying needs of Irish enterprise and they are very specifically targeted by size, sector and need and are targeted at vulnerable but viable companies.

There are a number of loan schemes which have been put in place to assist businesses. The Covid-19 Working Capital Scheme open to eligible SMEs and small mid-caps (businesses of up to 499 employees) is operated by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and is supported by the InnovFin SME Guarantee facility.

The Future Growth Loan Scheme open to eligible SMEs and small mid-caps currently makes loans available with a term of 8-10 years and is operated by (SBCI) through participating lenders.

The new €2 billion COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme to aid SMEs is a further development of the existing Credit Guarantee Scheme already available. The Scheme will be available to all SME sectors. The implementation of this Scheme will require primary legislation, the drafting of which has commenced.

The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports to those wishing to start or grow their own business, in the first instance they act as a ‘signposting’ service for all government supports available to the SME sector. Supports offered through the Local Enterprise Offices include mentoring and training. The Mentor Programme is designed to match up the knowledge, skills, insights and entrepreneurial capability of experienced business practitioners with small business owner/ managers who need practical and strategic one to one advice and guidance. The mentor contributes independent, informed observation and advice to aid decision making. Furthermore, the LEOs have moved training programmes, workshops and networking meet-ups online. The LEOs provide a wide range of high-quality training supports which are tailored to meet specific business requirements. In addition to this, the LEOs launched the LEO Client Training Initiative which is a new ‘Lunch & Learn’ live training webinar series. This is open and accessible to all LEO client companies and prospective clients across the country, with no registration or sign-up required.

In addition to the above, the LEOs act as a signposting service for businesses to other business supports, the full extent of which can be viewed on my Department’s website at: https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/

The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection's Enterprise Support Grant has been made available to assist self-employed recipients who are exiting the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) scheme with a once-off grant of up to €1,000 to re-start their business. This will provide business owners with a once-off grant of up to €1,000 to re-start their business. A fund of €12m has been allocated for the extension of this grant. The grant will be payable to self-employed micro enterprises which employ fewer than 10 people, have an annual turnover of less than €1 million and are not eligible for support from the COVID 19 Business Restart Grant or other similar business reopening grants.

Government is considering what further initiatives are needed as part of the forthcoming Recovery Plan. Any suggestions the Deputy has in this regard would be welcome.

Barr
Roinn