Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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15. To ask the Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29926/20]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I recognise the important role that the wedding professionals sector play in helping couples with the arrangements for their special day and how they are part of the events and hospitality ecosystem in the country, enabling buyers and sellers to meet and develop their businesses.

I am acutely aware of the difficulties the sector has faced in recent months due to the impact of social distancing requirements.

The Government's COVID-19 plan published in September, 'Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19' specifically recognises the impact of restrictions on weddings as a category of organised events. I am pleased that Fáilte Ireland has developed guidelines that can be used for the organisation of wedding functions and are available on Fáilte Ireland’s COVID-19 Business Support Hub at: www.failteireland.ie

My Department and its agencies have been focused on coming up with solutions to help businesses overcome the challenges presented by the unprecedented difficulties caused by COVID-19.

Details of the wide range of supports available are noted on my Department’s website at .

In the wider context of the Government’s Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19, the operation and reopening of Ireland's economy and society will be guided by the need to manage risk and repair the damage that COVID-19 has inflicted on society, and on the implementation of appropriate measures to do so across business and society as the situation evolves.

Budget 2021 announced today, together with the measures I announced as part of the July Stimulus Package, provides a substantial financial package to stimulate our economy and to help businesses to open, to help those already open to stay open, to get staff back to work and for those who cannot go back to their old jobs, there are new opportunities.

The range of measures in place to assist businesses include direct grants to support viable businesses and jobs, including new hires. We have extended the wage subsidy scheme and we are giving companies extra assistance through an enhanced Restart Plus Grant Scheme, rates waivers and reductions in VAT.

We are providing more and cheaper loan finance through MicroFinance Ireland, SBCI and the new €2 bn Credit Guarantee Scheme. I announced the reopening of MFI lending on 31st August and I launched the €2bn Credit Guarantee Scheme on 7th September.

I am working with my colleagues across Government to assist businesses impacted by Covid-19 and I will continue to keep the supports provided for enterprise under review with the goal of setting our country towards economic recovery.

My colleague, Minister Catherine Martin T.D., Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, may be able to provide more specific details on a roadmap to recovery for the events and hospitality industry, for which she has lead responsibility.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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16. To ask the Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment if he will review the restart grant qualifying criteria in order to allow companies with high turnovers but low profit rates in exceptional circumstances, that is, turnover of over €5 million but a low profit margin.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29928/20]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Restart Plus Grant is a contribution towards the cost of re-opening or keeping a business operational and re-connecting with employees and customers. The grant could be used to defray ongoing fixed costs during closure, for example, utilities, insurance, refurbishment or for measures to ensure employee and customer safety.

In seeking to support the most exposed and at risk micro and small businesses, my Department has sought to put as few obstacles as possible in the way of eligible businesses accessing funding; under the Restart Plus Grant the criteria was raised from turnover of less than €5m to less than €25m.

I am not aware of this question as a widespread concern and where clarification of the eligibility criteria has been necessary the Local Authorities have engaged proactively with my officials to tease out how best to proceed. I can advise the Deputy that in a circumstance, subject to consideration of the particular application in line with the established eligibility criteria, where a firm or sector argues that its turnover is inflated by a disproportionate cost of sales (e.g., the manufacturer’s price of a product to a retailer), a rejected applicant can appeal the case to their Local Authority for consideration by providing evidence of the net or ‘real’ turnover of the local business in question. Any appeal should be made within seven days of receiving the initial decision. 

In addition to the Restart Plus Grant, there are other supports available to businesses, from, for example, Enterprise Ireland, the Local Enterprise Offices, MicroFinance Ireland, and InterTrade Ireland. These supports include grants, loans and mentoring, training and advice provisions,  which are detailed on my Department’s website at .