Music Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme (MEBAS): Phase 2 - Your questions answered

Please read the following carefully before starting your application.

Phase 2 of the Music Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme will open for applications from 4 October to 18 October 2021. A business may make one application only under this scheme. If you have already received a grant under MEBAS or MEBASII you are welcome to apply under MEBAS Phase 2 also.

The MEBAS and MEBAS II both closed for applications at 1pm on 30 September 2021. It is not possible to apply for these schemes now.

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 MEBAS or not.

This scheme will see support offered by way of four levels of once-off, flat payments:

Strand A

€1,500 for businesses with a VAT-exclusive turnover of €15,000 - €20,000 with minimum business costs of €1,600 incurred from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021.

Strand B

€2,500 for businesses with a VAT-exclusive turnover of €20,000 - €50,000 with minimum business costs of €2,600 incurred from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021.

Strand C

€4,000 for businesses with a VAT-exclusive turnover of €50,000 - €100,000 with minimum business costs of €4,800 incurred from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021.

Strand D

€5,000 for businesses with VAT-exclusive turnover in excess of €100,000 with minimum business costs of €6,000 incurred from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021.

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 Phase 2 Guidelines before starting your application. The application form for this scheme will be made available on the department’s website at 1pm on 4 October 2021. Click on the “Start New Application” button and complete the form.

Applicants who have been approved for funding under ESCSS may apply for MEBAS Phase 2.

Applicants may apply for both MEBAS Phase 2 and ESCSS Phase 2.

No.

Recipients of MEBAS and MEBAS II are welcome to apply for MEBAS Phase 2 while the application window is open.

Yes, you can apply for and be a recipient of both the LPSS and MEBAS.

Businesses whether sole traders, partnerships or incorporated entities operating exclusively within the live entertainment sector may apply. Businesses of musicians and singers of all genres are eligible to apply, as are sound engineers, lighting engineers, audio engineers, stage managers, stage technicians, sound and lighting equipment suppliers, live-streaming equipment suppliers and full-time Disk Jockeys.

The features of the scheme are as follows:

• businesses must intend to resume trading in full once government restrictions are eased
• 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
• the average monthly turnover for the business from 1 April 2021 to 30 September 2021 should be no more than 25% of the average monthly turnover for the business in the year for which accounts have been submitted
• profits of the trade or trading activities of the business must be chargeable to tax under Case I or Case II of Schedule D
• 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
• payments under the scheme are taxable payments and a tax liability may arise when the business makes its annual tax returns
• businesses must be tax compliant
• names, county in which the beneficiary is located and business details of successful grantees will be published on the department’s website

Please note:

A business may make only one application for funding under this scheme. If you have already received a grant under MEBAS or MEBASII you are welcome to apply under MEBAS Phase 2.

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 (D/TCAGSM) under future eligibility checks.

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

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 18 October 2021 at 1pm. 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 MEBAS 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 MEBAS Phase 2 appeals process.

All queries can be emailed to MEBAS2@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.