Earlier this month the Government announced new measures to protect the public and reduce the spread of COVID 19 including "household close contacts who are fully vaccinated and showing no symptoms should restrict their movements until they have 3 negative antigen test results taken within a 5-day period." This was done to interrupt the spread of the virus in the community.
The Government has worked to ensure that there is a wide range of easily accessed financial assistance for SMEs affected by the changing impacts of COVID-19, these include the COVID-19 Working Capital Scheme, the Brexit Loan Scheme, the COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme and the Future Growth Loan Scheme. For further information, businesses are advised to view my Department’s website at enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/Government-supports-to-COVID-19-impacted-businesses.html.
In Budget 2022, my Department was allocated €17m in once-off funding for COVID-19 impacted businesses, ensuring that our Enterprise Agencies can continue to fund important projects aimed at fast track expanded production of COVID-19 relevant products, as well as meeting the cost of any claims under the COVID Credit Guarantee Scheme. In addition, some €79m from savings in 2021 will be used to meet commitments on various COVID Schemes arising in 2022 and as a result almost €100m of discrete COVID funding will be available to assist businesses as they emerge from the grip of the pandemic in 2022.
Individual businesses are also advised to contact their Local Enterprise Office (contact details are available on their network website www.localenterprise.ie) who act as a signpost to information on business supports.
The full range of Government supports to business are available on my Department’s website www.enterprise.gov.ie. It is important to note that all business supports are being kept under review to ensure that they are timely and target those that need them the most.
