There have been a wide range of measures taken by government to provide support for business during the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic including the provision of grants for businesses. A range of detail is set out in tabular format for the Deputy.
In addition to the information contained in the table, I can advise that the Restart Grant Scheme was operational through the 31 local authorities during 2020 and approved 108,489 successful applications with payments of some €632 million. Upon final closure of the Scheme, in line with the provisions of the Scheme Service Level Agreements, an independent audit was commissioned to provide reasonable assurance as to the implementation, monitoring and control of the Scheme and reasonable assurance as to the appropriate administration, disbursement and reconciliation of the funding provided by the Exchequer for the Scheme. This is expected be concluded very shortly.
The C&AG included the Restart Grant in their ‘Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2020’ recognising the conditions of the Scheme and the proposed independent audit, and this in turn was also considered by the PAC who also noted the Scheme provisions, delivery context and the proposed audit. As the Scheme was delivered through the Local Authorities, it has been subject to the appropriate public sector operational and financial management procedures, and an ‘Overview of the Restart Grant and Restart Grant Plus Schemes’ report was produced in October 2021 by the VFM Unit of the Local Government Audit Service.
The Restart Grant independent audit is currently underway and, following completion of this, an evaluation of the Scheme will be carried out. The evaluation will also examine the contribution of grants towards preventing permanent business closure and preserving employment during the Covid pandemic, along with and any lessons for how any similar business assistance schemes could be designed and administered in the event of a future emergency.
The audits of the Small Business Assistance Scheme for Covid (SBASC) by the C&AG and an independent auditor are currently ongoing. An independent evaluation of the scheme may take place at a later date.
The Comptroller and Auditor General publish annual audit opinion on the accounts and funds administered by my Department to ensure that public funds have been managed to good effect and that expenditure and receipts for are properly accounted for.
While we are responding to a very dynamic situation to address the challenge of getting the right assistance to firms and workers at the right time, all schemes of my Department and agencies include appropriate governance and oversight in the administration of advisory and funding schemes.
List of Grants
