Events Sector Covid Support Scheme: Phase 2 - Your questions answered

Please read the following carefully before starting your application.

Phase 2 of the Events Sector Covid Support Scheme will open for applications from 7 October 2021 to 21 October 2021. A business may make one application only under this scheme.

If you applied for the original round of ESCSS during August, you may also make one application for ESCSS Phase 2.

No. The Events Sector Covid Support Scheme was open for applications from 4 August 2021 to 1pm on 31 August 2021 and is now closed.

Eligibility does not guarantee the offer of a grant. Applications will be considered strictly by order of date and time of receipt by the department.

An email will issue, advising you of the outcome of your application. This email will detail the expected time it will take for payment to issue.

Applications will be considered by order of receipt by the department regardless of whether an applicant was approved for the original round of ESCSS or not.

Support will be offered by way of a single once-off payment to the value of 5% of the VAT-exclusive

turnover of the business, up to a maximum award of €25,000

The grant will be paid to the business’ bank account by EFT, using the details submitted on the application form. Applicants are advised not to change or close the account they submit on their application form until payment has been made.

The payment is made as a contribution to costs for businesses that have been significantly negatively affected by COVID-19.

Please read the Guidelines before starting your application. The application form for this scheme will be made available on the department’s website at 1pm on 7 October 2021. Click on the “Start New Application” button and complete the form.

You will know that you are using the correct form for ESCSS Phase 2 as the form for original ESCSS is now closed.

Applicants who were funded under ESCSS may apply for ESCSS Phase 2.

The application form will require applicants to self-declare that they are ineligible for and are not in receipt of the CRSS. Businesses will be also asked to confirm that they are not registered charities or a Not for Profit Organisations (NFP).

You may apply.

Yes, you can apply. Businesses that have received grants under Phase 2 of the Small Business Assistance Scheme COVID-19 (SBASC Q2) will have that amount deducted from their Requested Amount.

You can apply for and be a recipient of both the LPSS and ESCSS.

ll applications must include an Auditor’s Certificate or Letter signed by your Accountant which addresses all items required. Accounts will not be accepted.

The periods of time for consideration in relation to reduction of turnover are different and we require a letter specific to your ESCSS Phase 2 application.

• applications will be accepted for companies with VAT-exclusive turnover of €150,000 and above for 2019. This must be verified using an Auditor’s Certificate/Letter from an Accountant
• the auditor’s certificate/Accounts letter must confirm which stream the application is for
• the business must be able to demonstrate that their turnover was no more than 25% of their average turnover for 2019 for any consecutive three months during the period 1 April 2021 - 30 September 2021. This must be verified on the Auditor’s Certificate
• support will be offered by way of a single once-off payment to the value of 5% of the VAT-exclusive turnover of the business, up to a maximum award of €25,000
• turnover eligible for this scheme can only be generated by activities in the State
• grants received under Phase Two of the Small Business Assistance Support Scheme for Covid (SBASC) will be deducted from any ESCSS Phase 2 award
• businesses must intend to resume trading in full once government restrictions are eased and will be required to declare this when applying
• the business must be located in the State and the address of the business for tax purposes must be located wholly within a geographical region for which COVID-19 restrictions are in operation
• profits of the trade or trading activities of the business must be chargeable to tax under Case I or II of Schedule D
• payments under the scheme are taxable and a tax liability may arise when the business makes its annual tax returns
• businesses must have a current eTax Clearance Certificate from the Revenue Commissioners
• the scheme operates on a self-assessment basis. Businesses are required to retain evidence and documentation that supports the basis for making a claim under this scheme as this may be requested by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under future eligibility checks
• names, grant amount and county in which the beneficiary is located of successful grantees may be published on the department’s website
• the department reserves the right to audit a randomly selected sample of eligible applicant’s accounts after the scheme has closed

Please note:

A business can make a maximum of one application under this scheme, either stream A or B, but not under both streams.

The scheme operates on a self-assessment basis. Businesses are required to retain evidence and documentation which supports the basis for making a claim under the scheme as this may be requested by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under future eligibility checks.

The department will arrange to carry out spot-checks to ensure compliance with the qualifying criteria.

You must select a period of 3 consecutive months during the period 1 April 2021 - 30 September 2021.

Details of individual awards may be published on the department’s website including the name of the grantee; county in which the beneficiary is located; grant amount.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 1pm on 21 October 2021. Applications cannot be accepted after this time. The Scheme may close earlier if funding is exhausted.

Due to the high volume of applications anticipated, it may not be possible to allocate funding to all eligible applicants. Applications will be considered strictly by order of date and time of receipt by the department.

A typed signature should be provided where indicated on the last page of the application form.

An appeal may be made by a business if the applicant considers that the process for reviewing their application was not adhered to. The business must be in receipt of a decision email from the ESCSS Team in order to make an appeal. An appeal must be made within 5 working days of the date on the decision email. See further information in relation to the ESCSS appeals process.

All queries can be emailed to ESCSS@tcagsm.gov.ie

If you have an application number, please remember to include this in all correspondence. Please also note that this document may be updated from time to time.

Aid being provided towards this Scheme is subject to the provisions of the European Commission’s State Aid Temporary Framework as amended. While this department has a primary responsibility to comply with those requirements and other State Aid rules, compliance also depends on the co-operation of applicants, including their adherence to these Guidelines, their candour in making applications to us and, ultimately, their compliance with the terms and conditions attaching to the grant, if successful.