Publication
Pillar 3: Re-building Sustainable Enterprises
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
Our overall ambition is to exceed pre-crisis employment levels to 2.5 million people in work by 2024.
The government is committed to creating the right environment for a jobs-led recovery by setting out a renewed package of supports and investments; helping business become more resilient, innovative and productive; improving Ireland’s competitiveness; and through a focus on expanding sectors and leveraging green and digital opportunities.
Both domestic SMEs and multinational companies (MNCs) will play a significant role in reaching our overall employment target.
Disruptive macro trends including accelerations in automation and adoption of remote working; deepening geopolitical divides on the integrated, open nature of the global economy, including international tax developments; and other societal changes are redefining business models. The pandemic has seen significant adaptability, innovation, digitalisation and diversification by businesses. This Plan builds on this through strategic policies.
Our approach includes:
The Economic Recovery Plan sets out a new package of enterprise supports and extensions for the most impacted sectors, reaffirming the government’s commitment to taper supports off gradually.
| EWSS | Extension of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme and the Pandemic Unemployment Payment as outlined under Pillar 2 – Helping People Back into Work. | |
| CRSS | COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS): The COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme will be extended beyond 30 June until the end of the year. As firms are able to reopen and exit the scheme, there will be an enhanced restart payment of three weeks at double rate of payment to support businesses in meeting the costs of reopening as they exit the scheme. The maximum restart payment will be increased to €10,000 per week, allowing businesses to receive up to a maximum of €30,000. | |
| SBASC | Complementary supports include the Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID-19 (SBASC), with a new round of applications for quarter 2 and broadened eligibility to assist a wider range of enterprise with grant aid to assist with fixed costs. | |
| Business Resumption Support Scheme | A new more streamlined business support scheme, the Business Resumption Support Scheme, will be introduced for businesses with significantly reduced turnover as a result of public health restrictions in September 2021. | |
| Commercial Rates Waiver | The Commercial Rates Waiver will be extended beyond 30 June, to end-September, is its current form. | |
| Debt Warehousing Scheme | The Tax Debt Warehousing Scheme will be extended to the end of 2021 for all eligible taxpayers with an interest free period during 2022. COVID related liabilities will then fall to be paid from 1 January 2023. Overpayments of Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme will now also be included in the scheme. | |
| SCARP | A dedicated new standalone examinership process to reduce cost and timeframe for small companies is being established - the Small Companies Administrative Rescue Process (SCARP). | |
| Temporary Redundancy Claim Suspension | The temporary suspension of the right of an employee to trigger a redundancy claim has been extended to 30 September. When it is lifted businesses experiencing difficulties can be supported through the provision of a COVID-19 Deferred Payment arrangement. |
A roadmap for the recovery path for the aviation sector is rooted in the reopening of international travel, supports for workers in particular EWSS, and sectoral specific supports.
Continuing support for the tourism sector will be important for the coming adjustment period as public health restrictions are lifted and international travel is restored. As part of Government’s support for the sector, the lower tourism and hospitality VAT rate of 9% will be extended to 1 September 2022, and Fáilte Ireland will continue its support initiatives including through its Business Continuity Scheme or equivalent schemes.
Arts: Government will consider a range of recommendations in relation to Arts and Culture, including a proposal for a basic income guarantee pilot scheme for artists.
Live entertainment: A number of pilot live events for arts, culture, sport and live entertainment (indoor and outdoor) are being developed for delivery in June and July. These events will inform the safe reopening of these activities and events when the public health situation allows. These opportunities will build on complementary supports for this sector, including:
Other existing supports will remain in place. These include: