Business Supports Through Covid-19

The Wage Subsidy Scheme

The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme allows employers to continue to pay their employees during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. It aims to keep employees registered with their employers, so that they will be able to get back to work quickly after the pandemic.The new COVID-19 Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme will run until end of August 2020.

Full details on revenue.ie and latest FAQs click here.

Restart Grant

Direct grant aid of between €2,000 minimum and €10,000 based on commercial rates bill from 2019.

Scheme applies to small businesses with a turnover of under €5m and employing 50 people or less.

Scheme opens for applications on Friday 22 May through the Local Authorities.

* Applications via Cork County Council: https://bit.ly/36lRxix
* Applications via Cork City Council: https://bit.ly/3e2qUSm

Enterprise Support Grant

The Enterprise Support Grant will be made available to assist self-employed recipients who are exiting the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) scheme. This will provide owners with a once-off grant of up to €1,000 to re-start their business. A fund of €12m has been allocated for the extension of this grant.

The grant will be payable to self-employed micro enterprises which employ fewer than 10 people, have an annual turnover of less than €1 million and are not eligible for support from the COVID 19 Business Restart Grant or other similar business reopening grants. Read more.

Short-time Work Support

Short-time Work Support is available under Job Seeker’s Benefit and is an income support payment for employees who have been temporarily placed on a shorter working week, due to business challenges affecting their employment. More details here.

Microfinance Loans

The MFI COVID-19 Business Loan is fully subscribed. It may be reopened to applications depending on availability of additional funding and new legislation.

Visit Microfinance here.

SBCI Loans

Loans from €25,000 to €1.5 million under the Working Capital Loan Scheme, operated by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI). Loans are available to viable micro enterprises, SMEs and enterprises with up to 500 employees.

Longer term loans from €100,000 to €3,000,000 for SME’s under the Future Growth Loan Scheme also operated through the SBCI. The loans have a maximum interest rate of 4.5% and the first €500,000 borrowed can be unsecured.

More details here.

Credit Guarantee Scheme

The Credit Guarantee Scheme can be used by businesses to obtain loans to support changes they need to make to their business in response to Covid-19. More information here.

Trading Online Voucher

Under the Government’s National Digital Strategy, the expanded Trading Online Voucher Scheme helps small businesses with up to 10 employees to trade more online, boost sales and reach new markets. There is up to €2,500 available through the Local Enterprise Offices with co-funding of 10% from the business.

Training and further business supports are also provided by Local Enterprise Offices,and businesses that have already received a Trading Online Voucher can now apply for a second voucher, where upgrades are required.

More details here.

Support from Banking & Payments Federation Members

Retail banks (AIB, Bank of Ireland, KBC, Permanent tsb and Ulster Bank), non-bank mortgage lenders (Finance Ireland and Dilosk/ICS Mortgages) and credit servicing firms (Investec Private Finance Ireland Ltd, Lapithus, Link Group, Mars Capital, Pepper and Start) have put in place measures to help personal customers and businesses including not-for-profit businesses/organisations (retail banks only). Read More.

Guide for Businesses May 12, Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation click here

Return to Work Protocol May 08 Click here – read Chamber comment here

Sustainable Cork Programme May 08 Read more

Waiver on commercial rates, warehousing of tax liabilities and grant schemes May 02 – click here.

Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business – May 01 click here.

NSAI. Check their website here for tools tailored to your business sector.

Enterprise Ireland: Business support brochure;  Sustaining Enterprise Fund; Financial planning grant; Lean business continuity; Employers guide

Illness Benefit

The Government has announced that the rate of Illness Benefit has further increased from €305 to €350 per week, and recipients will not have to wait 6 days before applying for the benefit.

The enhanced Illness Benefit will be paid for a maximum of 2 weeks where an individual must self isolate, and for a maximum of 10 weeks if an individual is diagnosed with COVID-19,

Find out more here.

Pandemic Unemployment Payment

The Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment has been extended to August 10th. This payment was increased to €350 per week as of March 27th and is available to all individuals who are temporarily fully unemployed, including the self-employed.

The quickest and easiest way to apply for (or close) the Covid-19 unemployment payment is via MyWelfare.ie.

Due to the current situation employees with dependants who are accessing the Covid 19 Emergency Payment are also advised to make a Job Seeker application at this time. Download form here.

Employers with queries can email the Cork branch here.

DBEI. The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation have set up a Business Support Call Centre to give you more information on supports available: 01 631 2002 or email infobusinesssupport@dbei.gov.ie

Revenue. Revenue has announced measures for SMEs experiencing cashflow difficulties: Click here

Insurance. Review your insurance policy to find out if your policy includes cover for an interruption in your business, or a temporary business closure, caused by COVID-19.

Your local bank. The primary pillar banks announced that they will support businesses experiencing difficulties.