Government supports for COVID-19 impacted businesses

There is a wide range of financial supports and guidance available to help businesses impacted by the COVID-19 crisis

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  The Credit Guarantee Scheme supports loans up to €1 million for periods of up to 7 years. Applications can be made to AIB, Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank. Eligibility criteria apply.
  
  
• Credit Guarantee Scheme for COVID-19 FAQs
  
  

• Microenterprises can access COVID-19 Business Loans of up to €50,000 from Microfinance Ireland. The terms include a six months interest free and repayment free moratorium, with the loan to then be repaid over the remaining 30 months of the 36-month loan period. Loans are available at an interest rate of between 4.5% and 5.5%. Businesses can apply through their Local Enterprise Office or directly at microfinanceireland.ie. Eligibility criteria apply.
  
  
• Microfinance Ireland COVID-19 Business Loan FAQs
  
  

• The new €450m SBCI COVID-19 Working Capital Scheme for eligible businesses supports loans from €25,000 up to €1.5 million (first €500,000 unsecured) with a maximum interest rate of 4%. Applications can be made through the SBCI website at sbci.gov.ie. Eligibility criteria apply.
  
  
• SBCI COVID-19 Working Capital Scheme FAQs
  
  

• An additional €200 million in COVID-19 funding for the Future Growth Loan Scheme, which will be released in tranches, will provide longer-term loans to COVID-19 impacted businesses.
  
  
• The new Sustaining Enterprise Fund of up to €180 million is specifically aimed at firms operating in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors, with 10 or more employees, that are vulnerable but viable. The fund is operated by Enterprise Ireland, providing repayable advances of up to €800,000 as agreed with the EU under new State Aid rules.
  
  
• As part of the Sustaining Enterprise Fund, Enterprise Ireland will also administer a specific Sustaining Enterprise Fund for Small Enterprise. This fund will provide a short term working capital injection of up to €50,000 to eligible smaller companies to support business continuity and strengthen their ability to return to growth.
  
  
• The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund will focus on investment in medium and large scale enterprises in Ireland through a Pandemic Stabilisation and Recovery Fund. The fund, worth up to €2 billion, will make capital available to medium and large enterprises on commercial terms.

Get advice

Get advice from your accountant or use the advisory support available from your Local Enterprise Office.

Check your insurance cover

Check if your insurance policy covers you for an interruption in your business, or a temporary business closure, caused by COVID-19.

Engage with Revenue

Revenue's COVID-19 information and advice for taxpayers and agents provides information on Revenue services and tax and customs measures in place during the COVID-19 pandemic including information on tax returns, new 'warehousing' of deferred tax debts and interest suspension arrangements.

Be aware of other government supports and guidance

• The government has announced a National COVID-19 Income Support Scheme. This provides financial support to Irish workers and businesses affected by the crisis.
  
  
  • apply for the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
  • apply for Enhanced Illness Benefit for COVID-19 including for self-isolation cases
  • apply for a jobseeker’s payment
  • request to close their Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
    
    
• COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme: The COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme, operated by Revenue, enables employees, whose employers are affected by the pandemic, to receive significant supports directly from their employer through the payroll system. 
  
  
• Pandemic Unemployment Payment: The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is a payment of €350 per week. It is available to all employees and the self-employed who have lost their job due to the COVID-19 pandemic. MyWelfare.ie is the quickest and easiest way to apply for payments - all you need is your email address, PPSN and bank account details. 
  
  On MyWelfare.ie all customers can

• Short-time Work Support: Employees of businesses that need to reduce hours or days worked can avail of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Short-time Work Support.
  
  
• General grant supports: The full range of Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Local Enterprise Office and Údarás na Gaeltachta grant supports continue to be available to eligible firms to help with strategies to access finance, commence or ramp-up online trading activity, reconfigure business models, cut costs, innovate, diversify markets and supply chains and to improve competitiveness. 
  
  
• Restart Grant: The new Restart Grant will give direct grant aid to micro and small businesses to help them with the costs associated with reopening and reemploying workers following COVID-19 closures. The Grant will be available to businesses with a turnover of less than €5m and employing 50 people or less, which were closed or impacted by at least a 25% reduction in turnover out to 30 June 2020. The grants will be equivalent to the rates bill of the business in 2019, or a minimum grant of €2,000, whichever is the higher, with a maximum grant of €10,000. Businesses who are in arrears or have not yet paid their 2019 rates bill will still be eligible to apply for the grant. Application forms can be downloaded from all local authority websites from Friday 22 May.
  
  
• Trading Online Voucher: The Local Enterprise Office Trading Online Voucher is a government grant scheme, designed to assist small businesses with up to 10 employees. It offers financial assistance of up to €2,500 along with training and advice to help your business trade online. Businesses that have already received a Trading Online Voucher can now apply for a second voucher, where upgrades are required.
  
  
• LEAN for Micro: LEAN for Micro is available to Local Enterprise Office clients to help build resilience within small companies. Businesses can avail of consultancy support with a LEAN Expert or help to implement new remote working and physical distancing guidelines. 
  
  
• COVID-19 Online Retail Scheme: Applications are now open for the new Enterprise Ireland Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme to support retail companies to enhance their digital capability. The call is open to indigenous retailers employing 10 or more people to develop a more competitive online offer in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Grants ranging from €10,000 to €40,000 will be awarded under the competitive scheme.
  
  
• COVID-19 Business Financial Planning Grant: The COVID-19 Business Financial Planning Grant, worth up to €5,000, is designed to help companies to develop a robust financial plan, including the preparation of documentation required to support applications for external finance from banks and/or other finance providers. The grant is a new support for Enterprise Ireland clients and those manufacturing or internationally traded services companies that employ 10 or more full time employees.
  
  
• Lean Business Improvement Voucher: The Lean Business Continuity Voucher is available to eligible companies to access up to €2,500 in training or advisory services support related to the continued operation of their businesses during the current pandemic. It is open to small, medium or large client companies of Enterprise Ireland or Údarás na Gaeltachta (including High Potential Start-ups). The voucher may be used to obtain services from approved providers. 
  
  
• Commercial rates waiver: Commercial rates are being waived for a three month period beginning on 27 March 2020 for businesses that have been forced to close due to public health requirements. 
  
  
• Cross-border companies: InterTradeIreland’s Emergency Business Solutions offers professional advice, to the value of €2,250, to address key business challenges related to COVID-19. The E-Merge programme provides €2,800 consultancy support to help cross-border businesses develop online sales and eCommerce solutions.
  
  
• Food, drink and horticulture sector: Bord Bia's 'Navigating Change' COVID-19 Response programme offers a suite of supports for food, drink and horticulture businesses affected by COVID-19.
  
  Bord Iascaigh Mhara is providing COVID-19 business support to the seafood sector.
  
  Teagasc is available to provide support on issues facing farm businesses in light of COVID-19.
  
  
• Restaurants to operate as takeaways: Amendments to Planning and Development Regulations temporarily allow restaurants to operate as takeaways - whereby members of the public can order food for collection for consumption off-premises or have food delivered for consumption off-premises - without being required to obtain change of use planning permission to operate as takeaways.
  
  
• Supply chain workers: The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Department of Health have prepared COVID-19 guidance for supply chain workers. The guidance provides these essential workers with information as regards their continued work, the importance of access to sanitary facilities and the importance of maintaining all elements of the supply chain.
  
  
• Tourism sector: In response to the COVID-19 crisis and the impact on the tourism sector, the Fáilte Ireland COVID-19 Business Support Hub is targeting its supports to respond to the most urgent challenges and threats tourism businesses are now facing.
  
  
• Culture sector: The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has provided details of the COVID-19 supports for artists and those working in the arts sector.
  
  
• Design sector: The Design & Craft Council Ireland delivers a range of support and development programmes, including webinars and FAQs in response to COVID-19.
  
  
• Training and Mentoring: Enterprise Ireland's eiLearn is an online learning resource where you can access over 400 pieces of customised content designed for Irish SMEs. 
  
  The Local Enterprise Offices have moved training programmes, workshops and networking meet-ups online, covering areas such as cash management in a crisis, leading your business through COVID-19 and advice for employers impacted by the crisis - to find out more telephone or email your Local Enterprise Office.
  
  
• Focus on skills: Skillnet Ireland is supporting enterprises, across 70 learning networks as they address issues such as business continuity, financial planning, digital transformation and service innovation. 
  
  The network of Regional Skills Fora provides a single contact point in each region to help employers connect with the range of services and supports available across the education and training system.
  
  SOLAS provides training to companies and their employees through the Skills to Advance initiative and through online courses on the eCollege platform, which are now free to all learners.
• Business Continuity Planning COVID-19 Checklist: The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation has updated its checklist on Business Continuity Planning which provides a checklist for businesses in responding to COVID-19.
• Resources and guidance in response to COVID-19 from the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI):
• Standards for medical supplies made freely available: NSAI and SAI Global have developed the COVID-19 Response Package which provides free access to Standards for medical devices and personal protective equipment.
• Barrier masks: SWiFT 19:2020 barrier masks for consumers - Requirements
• Retail Protection and Improvement: The COVID-19 Retail Protection and Improvement Guide is available to help retailers manage business continuity during the COVID-19 emergency.
• Manufacturing and importing PPE and medical devices: Quick Guide to manufacturing and importing PPE and Medical Devices for the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure compliance.
• Workplace Protection and Improvement: The COVID-19 Workplace Protection and Improvement Guide outlines preventative measures businesses can take to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

• Filing of annual returns: The Companies Registration Office has introduced changes to annual filing obligations for companies to assist companies during the COVID-19 crisis.
  
  
• First Responder support service: The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation will provide a joint First Responder support service through the Intreo Offices and development agencies, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland in each region to provide tailored supports for impacted firms.

Innovate, collaborate and donate

COVID-19 Rapid Response Funding

A Rapid Response Research and Innovation programme to help respond to the COVID-19 pandemic has been developed by the government’s research and innovation agencies. So far, 26 projects have been approved €5 million funding under this national, coordinated research and innovation response to COVID-19.

Online COVID-19 platform to help firms collaborate

Companies aiming to help healthcare responses to the COVID-19 crisis can now collaborate via a new online COVID-19 platform. Spearheaded by InterTradeIreland and TechIreland, the cross-border platform allows businesses to see quickly, in and beyond their region, who they can work with to combat the many supply chain and manufacturing challenges generated by the pandemic and meet pressing public need.

How business can help with supplies and services to respond to COVID-19

For information on how to donate the goods or services of your business or organisation please go to how business can help.

Follow public health guidelines

The public health measures, in place from 18 May to control the spread of COVID-19, include new guidelines under Phase 1 of the government's roadmap for reopening society and business. 

Posters and graphics for workplaces and communities

The Department of Health has issued a range of COVID-19 posters for public use. Posters, leaflets and other resources for use in workplaces and communities are also available on the HSE website at COVID-19 posters and resources.

Roadmap for reopening business

The five phases of the roadmap for reopening society and business sets out Ireland's plan for lifting COVID-19 restrictions including different starting dates for different business sectors:

• 18 May (Phase 1)
• 8 June (Phase 2)
• 29 June (Phase 3)
• 20 July (Phase 4)
• 10 August (Phase 5)

The government approved the move to Phase 1 in line with advice received from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).

List of additional retailers that can open from 18 May

Return to work safely

The Return to Work Safely Protocol is designed to support employers and workers to put measures in place that will prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace, when the economy begins to slowly open up, following the temporary closure of most businesses during the worst phase of the current pandemic.

Related information and guidance

• HSE information on COVID-19
• HPSC COVID-19 guidance
• Department of Foreign Affairs travel advice
• What to do when arriving into Ireland
• HSA COVID-19 guidance
• Advice for employers and employees
• FAQs for employers and employees on home-working
• Placing PPE on the EU market – new conformity procedures
• Return to Work Safely templates and checklists

• DEASP COVID-19 information for employers and employees
• Competition and Consumer Protection Commission COVID-19 information hub
• COVID-19: Guidance on the right of travellers to terminate package travel contracts
• FSAI information on COVID-19 and food safety
• Central Bank COVID-19 information hub for consumers and businesses
• EU Export Controls for Personal Protection Equipment
• Data Protection and COVID-19
• CIF Statements on COVID-19 and Construction
• Common measures across most insurers for business customers in response to COVID-19
• COVID-19 Employment Permits System Contingency Arrangements
• Take-up of DBEI COVID-19 Business Supports

Download our guide to business supports

The Supports for businesses impacted by COVID-19 booklet details the key supports and resources available to help businesses.

Contact the Business Support Call Centre

The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation has established a Business Support Call Centre for information on the government supports available to businesses and enterprises affected by COVID-19.

Tel: +353 1 631 2002

Email: infobusinesssupport@dbei.gov.ie

Occupational Health and Safety Helpline

For information on workplace health and safety please contact the Occupational Health and Safety Helpline.

Tel: 1890 289 389 or (01) 614 7000

Email: wcu@hsa.ie

COVID-19 related prevention and recovery measures in the workplace

For support in relation to improving your COVID-19 related prevention and recovery measures in the workplace, contact the NSAI COVID-19 helpline.

Tel: +353 1 807 3800

Email: COVID-19-support@nsai.ie

For more information, advice and guidelines from across government visit gov.ie/covid19.