The closing date for receipt of applications by Local Authorities for the first phase of the Small Business Assistance scheme for COVID (SBASC) has now passed. This scheme is designed to support those businesses who are ineligible for CRSS and other sectoral schemes.
Please note that phase two of this scheme is due to be announced in the coming weeks. Businesses who meet the criteria will be eligible to apply through their Local Authority. Those who did not apply for phase one will be able to apply for phase two once they meet eligibility criteria. It will not be possible to apply retrospectively for phase 1 if you have missed the deadline.
Further details of the second phase of this scheme will be available on my Department’s website and also through local authorities.
As you are aware, the Government has put in place a comprehensive package to help businesses and workers during the pandemic, including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), the COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), low-cost loans, the deferral and warehousing of tax liabilities and the waiver of commercial rates.
You will also know that Budget 2021 provided a significant package of tax and expenditure measures to build the resilience of the economy and to help vulnerable but viable businesses across all sectors.
You specifically refer to hairdressers. Many hairdressers qualify for CRSS, administered by the Revenue Commissioners. I would urge businesses to be aware of the supports available to them. The level of Government business supports is unprecedented.
I want to assure you, that I and my Government colleagues are keeping all the current business support schemes under review.
