Written Answers Nos. 504-523
504. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a Covid-19 payment will be made available in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13987/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to the answer provided under Dáil Question No. 1014.
The Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was introduced by my Department in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. It is an income support payment for both employees and the self-employed who have become fully unemployed due to a downturn in economic activity related to Covid-19. One of the qualifying criteria for this payment is that the person is aged between 18 and 66 years. Unfortunately on this basis the person concerned does not qualify for this income support.
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned is currently in receipt of a State Pension (contributory).
If the person concerned is experiencing financial difficulties it is open to him to contact his local Community Welfare Service in the Newbridge Intreo Centre where his circumstances will be assessed. Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department can make a single Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. There is no automatic entitlement to these payments which are payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case, in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
The Community Welfare Service can be contacted by phone at 045 491500 (option 5).
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
505. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person who takes employment under the July provision scheme but is not paid until October 2020 will retain their Covid-19 payments. [14004/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhere a person in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment returns to work they should notify the Department of the date they resume working as they are not entitled to the payment when in work. Although the payment is closed from the day the person returns to work they will receive their final payment the following week as it is payable a week in arrears. Where a person will not receive a payment from their employer for a number of weeks they can apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance. In order to qualify for Supplementary Welfare Allowance a person must undergo a means test and satisfy the schemes eligibility criteria.
I trust that this clarifies the matter.
506. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of pandemic unemployment payments cancelled to date due to not meeting the criteria to receive the payment in the first place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14017/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the start of the pandemic unemployment payment on March 16th 2020, approximately 174,000 cases did not satisfy the conditions of payment for the reasons listed in the table below.
Note that this is a count of specific cases, and not a count of individual customers who have applied for but did not receive a PUP.
|
Reason |
% |
|
Overlap with Revenue Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme |
29.0 |
|
Not employed in the period |
19.0 |
|
Other/Customer requested |
15.9 |
|
Incorrect details provided |
15.1 |
|
Overlapping social protection payment |
15.1 |
|
Still in employment |
2.9 |
|
Customer not in the State |
1.6 |
|
Customer outside age bands |
1.3 |
507. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the costings carried out on the programme for Government; and if she will provide documents on those costings. [14029/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraDuring the course of Government formation talks, the Department provided briefing material and costings related to various policy proposals. These were published on 3 July 2020 by the Department of the Taoiseach and can be found at
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/7b927-programme-for-government-documents/#the-department-employment-affairs-and-social-protection
Costings for the specific Programme for Government commitments related to this Department will be explored over the coming months in the context of estimates and budgetary discussions.
508. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the supports available to older persons and those that had to cocoon during the Covid-19 emergency and generated greater than average household costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14046/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe primary State income support in respect of people who are aged 66 years or over is the State Pension – either the contributory State pension or the non-contributory pension, which is means tested.
Recipients of State pension payments may, subject to satisfying eligibility conditions, have access to a range of additional supports. These supports include the living alone increase, household benefits, telephone support allowance, fuel allowance and free travel.
A pensioner who is living alone can receive the living-alone increase, which was increased from €9 to €14 per week at the beginning of the year.
The household benefits package (HHB) is generally available to people living in the State aged 66 years or over, who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who satisfy a means test. My Department will spend approximately €265 million this year on HHB. It consists of the gas / electricity element of the package (€35 a month) and the free TV licence element.
The Fuel Allowance which was increased by €2 in Budget 2020 is a payment of €24.50 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €686 for the fuel season) from October to April at an estimated cost of €261 million in 2020. The purpose of this payment is to assist qualifying households with their energy costs.
During the COVID-19 emergency, the Government has been seeking to implement and operate supports that are targeted where most needed, to ensure continued economic activity and reduce the risk of poverty. In March, as part of Government COVID-19 response measures, the Fuel Allowance scheme was extended by four weeks until Friday, 8th May 2020. At a cost of €36.61 million, the extension of the fuel season for over 369,000 existing eligible households was put in place, to ensure that the most vulnerable groups, particularly older people in receipt of State pensions, were provided with additional targeted financial supports. This extension meant that the 2019/2020 Fuel Season ran to the latest end date of any season in the last 30 years.
The telephone support allowance (TSA) is a weekly payment of €2.50. The estimated full year cost of the scheme is over €17.5 million. To receive the allowance a customer of my Department must be in receipt of a qualifying payment such as the State pension and also in receipt of the Living Alone Allowance and the Fuel Allowance and the scheme supports recipients by assisting with the cost of communications and/or home security solutions.
While I fully understand that these are difficult and distressing times for many people, especially for the vulnerable and the elderly, any further economic measures can only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources.
Furthermore, my Department operates both Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people of any age, who have an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
509. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the external consultancy organisation or provider which delivered diversity and inclusion training within her Department from 2018 to date; the costs associated with such services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14054/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe procurement of consultancy services supports my Department in providing diversity and inclusion training. Details of the consultancy service providers engaged by my Department since 2018 are set out in the following table:
External Training / Learning
|
Date Payable |
Supplier / Provider |
Description |
Amount |
|
15/02/2018 |
Institute of Public Administration. |
MIS1 Leadership Masterclass - Building an Inclusive Culture |
€195.00 |
|
06/09/2018 |
Phoenix Rize Consulting |
MIS1 Diversity Workshop |
€200.00 |
|
29/07/2019 |
Immigrant Council of Ireland |
Training on Inmmigrant Council 22/2/19 - 1/5/19 |
€2,500.00 |
|
08/05/2018 |
Public Policy Exchange Limited |
MIS1 Fighting Poverty and Social Exclusion in Europe: Promoting and Equal, Open and Inclusive Society |
€316.00 |
|
Total |
€3,211.00 |
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
510. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the expenditure her Department incurred in respect of external legal fees in each of the years from 2016 to date in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14071/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department incurs expenditure on costs associated with legal cases from Vote 37 (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection) and the Social Insurance Fund.
Some costs are borne by the Chief State Solicitor's Office.
The following table sets out the amount paid by the Department for external legal services for the period since January 2016 to date:
|
Year |
Amount (€000) |
|
2020 to date |
605 |
|
2019 |
2,721 |
|
2018 |
4,115 |
|
2017 |
1,756 |
|
2016 |
1,017 |
511. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of notified job vacancies in Drogheda town by month from 2016 to date in tabular from; if the figures are available through employment services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14118/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe main reservoir of date of vacancies posted to the Department for jobseekers and others seeking employment is held on the Department's JobsIreland online recruitment platform. JobsIreland.ie is a free, easy to use and is provided by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection which is available to employers across the country to advertise their vacancies and to jobseekers to identify vacancies of interest to them.
The number of vacancies in Drogheda advertised on the Department’s online recruitment service, JobsIreland.ie, is available from June 2016 to June 2020 and is presented by month in the following tables.
JobsIreland Vacancies (Including Schemes) in Drogheda
|
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
Grand Total |
|
|
January |
36 |
30 |
34 |
30 |
||
|
February |
23 |
16 |
35 |
20 |
||
|
March |
24 |
22 |
46 |
12 |
||
|
April |
23 |
20 |
30 |
4 |
||
|
May |
17 |
43 |
56 |
4 |
||
|
June |
14 |
21 |
21 |
15 |
34 |
|
|
July |
19 |
16 |
21 |
26 |
||
|
August |
59 |
16 |
24 |
31 |
||
|
September |
50 |
33 |
29 |
21 |
||
|
October |
32 |
21 |
18 |
38 |
||
|
November |
33 |
24 |
30 |
25 |
||
|
December |
18 |
10 |
7 |
16 |
||
|
Total |
225 |
264 |
281 |
373 |
104 |
1247 |
JobsIreland Vacancies (Excluding Schemes) in Drogheda
|
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
Grand Total |
|
|
January |
20 |
10 |
13 |
6 |
||
|
February |
19 |
11 |
19 |
8 |
||
|
March |
10 |
8 |
31 |
7 |
||
|
April |
18 |
13 |
15 |
4 |
||
|
May |
13 |
24 |
37 |
4 |
||
|
June |
6 |
5 |
8 |
7 |
8 |
|
|
July |
9 |
12 |
9 |
12 |
||
|
August |
30 |
10 |
16 |
16 |
||
|
September |
26 |
29 |
16 |
6 |
||
|
October |
24 |
17 |
11 |
15 |
||
|
November |
22 |
11 |
19 |
14 |
||
|
December |
11 |
7 |
3 |
8 |
||
|
Total |
128 |
171 |
148 |
193 |
37 |
677 |
In addition to the vacancies advertised on JobsIreland.ie, recruitment services are also delivered by Intreo employment services personnel around the country and contracted providers in addition to recruitment achieved by many candidates through own personal efforts and networks and through commercial recruitment companies.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
512. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person over the age of 66 who could not receive the Covid-19 payment but who still has significant financial responsibilities will receive some form of financial relief; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14168/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe COVID 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is a time-limited payment available to people aged between 18 and 66 years, and the age range is consistent with other jobseeker and social protection income supports paid to working age people. People aged 66 years and over are provided for within the Social Protection income support framework through the State Pension, either the contributory State pension based on PRSI contributions or the non-contributory means tested pension.
A person in receipt of the State contributory pension can retain all of their State pension as well as their employment income and retain that pension payment if they lose employment income, thus guaranteeing an income support. If a person is not in receipt of the maximum rate of State Pension Contributory, they may be eligible for an increased weekly rate of payment on the State non-contributory means tested pension, depending on their circumstances. A person may also be entitled to an increase in respect of a qualified adult, subject to the means of the qualified adult.
People in receipt of the non-contributory or means-tested pension who are also in receipt of an employment income may have their pension payment increased if they lose that employment income or if that employment income is reduced. Similarly, if a person aged 66 or over who did not previously qualify for or make an application for a means-tested pension may qualify for a pension payment if their circumstances change – including if they lose any employment income or if that employment income is reduced. A person may be entitled to claim for an increase in respect of a qualified adult up to age 66 years depending on the specific circumstances.
People aged 66 and over may also be entitled to a range of ancillary supports that are aligned to the particular circumstances of older people and are significantly more valuable than those generally available to people of working age. These include free travel, fuel allowance, household benefits package (gas/electricity) and living alone allowance.
A person of any age who is experiencing financial hardship may access assistance under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme including Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments.
I trust that this clarifies the position.
513. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which a person can acquire a public services card at present. [14169/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe SAFE registration process, which my Department uses to authenticate a person's identity, is a face-to-face process which results in the issuing of a Public Services Card (PSC).
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department has temporarily suspended the SAFE registration process. This decision was taken in order to comply with HSE and WHO guidelines in respect of social distancing. As a result, it has not been possible for those who wish to obtain a PSC to get one.
My Department is currently resuming SAFE registration work on a phased basis in Intreo Centres and this is being done in accordance with all relevant HSE and Government guidelines to ensure the health and safety of the Department's customers and staff. I would expect that SAFE registrations will be resumed nationwide over the coming weeks.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
514. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made on a carer’s allowance application by a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in making a decision on the application which was lodged in July 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14206/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
Means are any income belonging to the carer and their spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant, property, (except their own home) or an asset that could bring in money or provide them with an income, for example occupational pensions, or pensions or benefits from another country.
A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are engaged in employment, self-employment or on training courses outside the home for a maximum of 18.5 hours per week, provided that they can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer that adequate care has been provided for the care recipient in their absence.
I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 1 October 2019.
The file was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 3 October 2019 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied.
The SWI report was received by the Deciding Officer, on foot of which further clarifications were requested from the SWI on 11 June 2020 in relation to his report. A reminder issued to the SWI on 01 July 2020.
Once the information is received the application will be processed without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
515. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to increase the income threshold to qualify for the carer’s allowance; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the means test disregard has not changed since 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14223/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government acknowledges the crucial role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy.
The main income supports to carers provided by my Department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Combined spending on these payments to carers in 2020 is expected to exceed €1.3 billion.
Carer's Allowance is a means-tested payment for carers who look after certain people in need of full-time care and attention on a full time basis. The means test for Carer's Allowance is one of the most generous means tests in the social welfare system, most notably with regard to spouse’s earnings. The amount of weekly earnings disregarded is €332.50 per week for a single person and €665 per week for a couple. This means that a couple with two children can earn in the region of €37,500 and qualify for the maximum rate of Carer's Allowance. A half-rate carer's allowance is also payable with other social welfare payments e.g. pensions and disability payments.
The conditions attached to payments of Carer’s Allowance are consistent with the overall conditions that apply to social assistance payments generally. This system of social assistance supports provides payments based on an income need with the means test playing the critical role in determining whether or not an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency – be that illness, disability, unemployment or caring. Carer's Allowance acts as an income support for those who cannot earn an income in the open labour market due to their caring responsibilities. The continued application of the means test not only ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need but that resources are targeted to those with greatest need.
Changes to schemes are considered in an overall budgetary and policy context and from an evidence based perspective. Some 86% of the current recipients of Carer’s Allowance have no means or means of less than €7.60 per week and would not benefit by an increase in the disregard.
Carers who would benefit from an increased disregard would be in higher income households. Given the need to target available resources fairly and equitably to those in most need, I have no plans to change the means conditions for Carer's Allowance at this juncture. While I will seek to improve the supports available for carers, any changes must be considered in an overall budgetary context.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
516. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated additional revenue that would be generated in a full year if the class S PRSI rate increased by 0.6%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14302/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is estimated that an additional €78 million in revenue would be generated in a full year from an increase to the current Class S rate of PRSI of 4% to 4.6%.
This estimate is based on the latest available data and reflects macro-economic indicators for 2020.
The estimate does not take into account any possible changes in contributor behaviour arising from increasing the rate of contribution.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
517. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a PPSN, personal public service number, will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14306/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department has allocated a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) to this individual and issued a letter advising the person of their PPSN on 2nd July 2020.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
518. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the standard 19.5 hour community employment scheme weekly placement will be made available to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14308/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned had an interview on 02/07/2020, for an alternative CE scheme of 19.5 hours per week. It is my understanding that the person concerned is willing to participate on this scheme.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
519. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the pandemic payment a person who is unable to return to work is entitled to in view of the fact they have an underlying health condition and are cocooning; if she will examine the specific case of a person (details supplied) in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14325/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe COVID-19 enhanced Illness Benefit payment applies to a person who is incapable of work by virtue of being certified by a registered medical practitioner as being a person -
(i) who is diagnosed with COVID-19, or
(ii) who is a probable source of infection of COVID-19 and is self-isolating - such persons will have either been certified by their Doctor or will have received the HSE text notification (i.e. where they are contact-traced or otherwise personally identified and advised by the HSE as being a probable source of infection).
A person who is diagnosed with COVID-19 and meets the conditions for payment is entitled to a maximum of 10 weeks enhanced IB. A person who is a probable source of infection of COVID 19 and is self-isolating is entitled to a maximum of 2 weeks enhanced Illness Benefit in respect of one claim. If the person has two 14-day contiguous periods where they are a probable source of infection, they must submit separate claims in relation to each of the two 14 day periods.
Persons who are self-isolating due to an underlying medical condition may qualify for regular Illness Benefit, provided they satisfy the relevant eligibility requirements and the have the required medical certification.
The person concerned received enhanced illness benefit for the maximum period of 4 weeks at a rate of €350 per week.
He is currently being paid regular illness benefit at a rate of €203 per week, and he has been paid fully up to date.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
520. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider a simple procedure for fathers to gain access to their child’s PPSN, personal public service number, for housing purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14331/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraA person can find their Personal Public Services Number (PPSN), or that of their child, on documents such as a Public Services Card, a Medical Card or GP Visit Card, a European Health Insurance Card, or a Drugs Payment Scheme Card.
Any parent who wishes to confirm the PPSN of their child can do so by calling my Department at Lo Call 1890 927 999.
They will be asked a series of questions to verify their identity, before being provided with their child's PPSN.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
521. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will remove the means test for the carer’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14337/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government acknowledges the crucial role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy.
The main income supports to carers provided by my Department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Combined spending on these payments to carers in 2020 is expected to exceed €1.3 billion.
Carer's Allowance is a means-tested payment for carers who look after certain people in need of full-time care and attention on a full time basis. The means test for Carer's Allowance is one of the most generous in the social welfare system, most notably with regard to spouse’s earnings. The amount of weekly earnings disregarded is €332.50 for a single person and €665 for a couple. This means that a couple with two children can earn in the region of €37,500 and qualify for the maximum rate of Carer's Allowance. A half-rate carer's allowance is also payable with other social welfare payments e.g. pensions and disability payments.
The conditions attached to payments of Carer’s Allowance are consistent with the overall conditions that apply to social assistance payments generally. This system of social assistance supports provides payments based on an income need with the means test playing the critical role in determining whether or not an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency – be that illness, disability, unemployment or caring.
The continued application of the means test not only ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need but that resources are targeted to those with greatest need.
Based on the number of carers identified as part of Census 2016, it is estimated that a universal (non-means tested) carer’s payment could cost up to an additional €1.2 billion per annum.
Given the need to target available resources fairly and equitably to those in most need, I have no plans to change the means conditions for Carer's Allowance at this juncture. While I will seek to improve the supports available for carers, any changes must be considered in an overall budgetary context.
I trust that this clarifies the matter.
522. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) is only receiving four weeks of the enhanced illness benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14352/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe enhanced Illness Benefit payment for cases in which a person is self-isolating on the instruction of a doctor or the HSE due to being a probable source of infection of Covid-19 is paid for a maximum of 4 weeks.
If a person receives a positive diagnosis of Covid-19, they may receive enhanced Illness benefit for a further 10 weeks. If a person has received the maximum of 4 weeks enhanced payment for self-isolation but does not have a confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19, the payment will revert to the normal Illness Benefit rate of payment providing a person qualifies for payment under existing Illness Benefit eligibility requirements and has medical certification from their GP.
The person concerned was paid for 4 weeks of enhanced Illness benefit for self-isolation from the 23rd March 2020 to the 18th April 2020. She did not qualify for further payment of regular Illness benefit after this based on her PRSI contributions.
In order to qualify for regular illness benefit, a person must have a total of 104 PRSI contributions paid. A person also must have 39 weeks of PRSI contributions paid or credited in the relevant tax year, of which 13 must be paid contributions at class A, E, H or P. Alternatively, a person may have 26 weeks of PRSI contributions paid in the relevant tax year, and 26 weeks of PRSI contributions paid in the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year with all such contributions at class A, E, H or P.
The person concerned does not have 104 total PRSI contributions paid, and has only 21 contributions paid on 2018, so they do not qualify for payment of normal Illness benefit.
If the person concerned is in need of financial assistance, it is open for them to contact their local community welfare officer and apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
523. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if taxi drivers are eligible for the enterprise support grant for small businesses. [14367/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Enterprise Support Grant is being extended to assist eligible self-employed recipients who are exiting the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme after 25th June 2020 to re-start their business. A once-off grant will be awarded for 80% of eligible costs up to a maximum of €1,000 covering vouched costs associated with re-opening a business which was closed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The grant will be available to tax compliant self-employed individuals who satisfy the scheme conditions including, employing fewer than 10 people, having an annual turnover of less than €1 million and not being liable for commercial rates. This grant is available for micro enterprises that are not eligible for other similar COVID business re-start grants from other Government Departments. The grant will be available to business owners who satisfy these conditions, which could include taxi drivers.
Funding of €12 million has been provided for this grant and my Department is developing the systems to put this grant into effect and will communicate how to access the grant over the coming weeks.
I trust that this clarifies the position at this time.
