Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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178. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide advice on a matter in relation to payments to support business owners over 66 years of age (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36203/21]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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There are a number of Covid related business supports under the remit of my Department including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme, the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), the Tax Debt Warehousing scheme and the recently announced Business Resumption Support Scheme (BRSS) due to be implemented in September. There is no age criteria associated with these schemes.They are available provided that the business meets all other eligibility criteria as appropriate. Full details of the schemes are set out on the Revenue website:

- EWSS - www.revenue.ie/en/employing-people/ewss/index.aspx

- CRSS - www.revenue.ie/en/self-assessment-and-self-employment/crss/index.aspx

- Tax Debt Warehousing - www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/communications/documents/debt-warehousing-reduced-interest-measures.pdf.

The eligibility criteria for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is a matter for my colleague Minister Humphreys as Minister for Social Protection, but I understand that the PUP is payable to people between the ages of 18 and 66 which is consistent with other social protection schemes payable to people of working age who have lost their employment. People aged 66 years and over are provided for through the State Pension (contributory) or the means-tested State Pension (non-contributory).

The Government have put in place a range of measures to support people and businesses most affected by the financial shock of the pandemic, including those mentioned above. The Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC) and Tourism Business Continuity scheme have also been established in order to support those businesses most at risk. Other schemes which have been established include the Live Performance Support Scheme (LPSS) and the Music Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme (MEBAS), both of which are targeted at supporting the commercial live performance sector. Details of the supports are available on the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment’s website at the following link - enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/.

Finally, I would note that the Government remains fully committed to supporting businesses and employers insofar as is possible at this time.