Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020
227. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a special helpline will be set up for businesses to contact for clarification regarding lockdown restrictions and check the way in which they apply to their business in view of the fact that most businesses are having confusion interpreting the list of essential services on the www.gov.ie website. [32997/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the advice of NPHET, the Government made the decision to move the entire country to Level 5 of the Framework for Living with COVID-19 for a period of six weeks. While essential retail and services including schools, early learning and childcare will remain open, all non-essential services must close. A comprehensive list of essential services can be found at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c9158-essential-services/.
Businesses should carefully review the essential services list and determine whether they can operate or not under the current restrictions. It is not necessary for businesses to seek official authorisation.
In March, as a response to COVID-19 my Department established a dedicated Business Support Call Centre to assist businesses in identifying the relevant business supports for which they are eligible and directing businesses on how and where to access grants, loans, mentoring, training and advice provisions.
Since its establishment, the Call Centre has responded to over 10,400 phone calls and emails from businesses. The week ending 23rd October saw an increase in enquiries with over 650 queries received following the announced move to Level 5 restrictions with almost 300 of these calls relating to whether businesses can remain open or not at Level 5. The Call Centre team advise callers on where to find the relevant information on the Gov.ie website and provide up-to-date information on the enhanced financial measures that Government have put in place to assist businesses during Level 5 restrictions.
A full list of those measures is available on my Department's website at https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/.
My colleagues and I across Government will continue to review the situation over the period to determine the most appropriate point for exit from this level of restriction.
