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Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 July 2020

Wednesday, 29 July 2020

Ceisteanna (31, 47)

Sorca Clarke

Ceist:

31. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an anomaly will be addressed in relation to the exclusion from the enterprise support grants eligibility criteria for the pandemic unemployment payment for trade operators who remained operating on an emergency call-out basis during the pandemic thereby ensuring homes and businesses remained safe and secure. [19014/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

47. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that many trade workers who undertook emergency work during the Covid-19 pandemic have been locked out of supports as they return to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19006/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí ó Béal (5 píosaí cainte)

That question is grouped with No. 47 in my name. I ask the Minister if her attention has been drawn to the fact that many trade workers who undertook emergency call-outs during the pandemic have been locked out of supports. Specifically, I am referencing the enterprise support grant. The Minister might comment on that.

I thank the Deputies for these questions. I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 47 together.

The enterprise support grant is being extended to assist eligible self-employed individuals who are exiting the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment or jobseeker's schemes after 25 June 2020 to restart their business which was closed due to the impact of the pandemic.

The grant of up to €1,000 will be payable to self-employed microenterprises which employ fewer than ten 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.  The Department is currently developing the systems to put this support into effect and will communicate how to access the grant in the coming week or so. Funding of €12 million has been approved for this grant.

In order to be eligible for the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment an individual must have lost his or her employment due to the pandemic.  Self-employed persons must have suffered a collapse in their trading income to the extent that they are available to take up other full-time work.  This means that a self-employed person can engage in once-off or sporadic emergency work and still retain eligibility for this payment.  In cases of doubt where emergency work is undertaken, an individual should discuss the matter with the Department.

If self-employed persons are ineligible for the pandemic unemployment payment, as they are engaged in regular employment or it generates significant income, they may be entitled to support under the jobseeker's benefit or jobseeker's allowance scheme depending on their individual circumstances.

I have asked several times how people will go about applying for that enterprise support grant. Will the Minister give an indication as to when she believes those matters will be decided and made public to allow people apply for them. Will those on the PUP who have returned to work without being able to apply for this payment and who do not pay rates and therefore cannot apply for the restart grant be able to apply for this enterprise support grant when they are already back at work? We have to remember that those over the age of 66 who are working - the self-employed or otherwise - who could not receive any support, including the pandemic unemployment payment, cannot access this enterprise support grant nor can they access the restart grant based on nothing other than their age. They were excluded from any supports, albeit they and their businesses suffered because of Covid-19. They were excluded based on their age. Is there a timeline for when the Minister will have the information on how people can apply for this grant?

Officials from my Department are currently developing the systems and the application process for this grant. Applicants will be asked to send their application form to their local Intreo centre to be processed for payment. Details on applying for the grant will be released early in August along with the grant application form. All details on the grant will be available on www.gov.ie.

If Deputies are happy to do so we will go back to Question No. 30 in the name of Deputy Lahart.

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