The Government have today announced their ‘medium term’ COVID-19 Plan for Ireland. The plan will outline ‘Living with COVID’ and includes five severity levels, with stage 1 being the most relaxed and 5 being restrictive.
Every county is currently at level 2 of the restrictions.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin said;
The plan will give clarity about each of our responsibilities, and how different situations and sectors will be handled.
The plan has three core pillars:
- Protecting Health
- Strengthen Employment
- Supporting Communities
The existing measures will continue for a further three-week period.
Pandemic Unemployment Payment remains open to new entrants until the end of the year.
Government approved €600m winter protection package to help our health service.
Government will broadly support the European Commission proposals on International Travel.
Limited crowds can attend sporting events under specific conditions.
Access to theatre, music and cinema events to be allowed in small, controlled settings.
Full Plan:
Resilience & Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19
Ireland is moving from a short-term emergency response approach to a medium-term approach to managing risk and repairing the damage that COVID-19 has inflicted on society.
The Framework for Restrictive Measures will help us to go about our daily lives as much as possible, while managing the behaviour of the virus. The Framework consists of 5 Levels.
The lower Levels will be activated when there is low incidence of the disease, with isolated outbreaks, low community transmission. The higher Levels will be used to deal with higher incidences of the disease.
Ireland is currently at Level 2
It will be possible for different regions and counties to be at a different Level to the National Level, depending on the incidence of the virus in that particular region or county.
At all times the priority guiding the plan will be to keep our schools open, while keeping people safe and protecting the resilience of our economy and communities.
Level 1
Social and family gatherings
In your home or garden
You can have up to 10 visitors from up to 3 households.
Other settings outside your home or garden
Members of different households can continue to meet socially in other settings with strict adherence to the sectoral guidance for those settings. When there is no specific guidance for the meeting, there should be no more than 50 attendees.
Up to 100 people can attend a wedding ceremony and reception.
These are controlled environments with a named event organiser, owner or manager.
For example: business, training events, conferences, events in theatres and cinemas or other arts events (excluding sport).
For most venues, a maximum of 100 patrons can attend.
Up to 200 patrons are allowed for larger venues where strict 2 metre seated social distancing and one-way controls for entry and exit can be implemented.
For very large purpose built event facilities (for example: stadia, auditoriums, conference or event centres) specific guidance will be developed with the relevant sectors to take account of size and different conditions for larger events.
These are controlled environments with a named event organiser, owner or manager. For example: outdoor Arts events, training events.
For most venues, a maximum of 200 patrons can attend.
Up to 500 patrons can attend outdoor stadia or other fixed outdoor venues with a minimum accredited capacity of 5,000 (with robust protective measures as per sectoral guidance).
For very large purpose built event facilities (for example: stadia, auditoriums, conference or event centres) specific guidance will be developed with the relevant sectors to take account of size and different conditions for larger events.
Training
Normal training sessions and games can take place indoors and outdoors with protective measures.
Matches and events
A maximum of 100 spectators can attend indoor matches or games.
A maximum of 200 spectators can attend outdoor matches or games.
Up to 500 spectators can attend outdoor stadia or other fixed outdoor venues with a minimum accredited capacity of 5,000.
For very large purpose built event facilities (for example: stadia, auditoriums, conference or event centres) specific guidance will be developed with the relevant sectors to take account of size and different conditions for events such as large national and international sporting events.
Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools
These can open with protective measures, taking account of public health advice, including social distancing.
Open with protective measures (for example: appropriate social distancing, one-way traffic within the venue, removal of communal prayer items) for up to 50 worshippers.
Where the premises allows for a capacity of greater than 50 this may be permitted in separated sub-groupings of no more than 50, with additional protective measures as per guidelines.
Open with protective measures in place (for example: a maximum capacity to allow 2 metres social distancing, one-way traffic withing the venue).
Maximum numbers are linked to capacity, taking account of public health advice.
Open with protective measures in place (for example: physical distancing, table service only, cleaning regimes, noise controls).
Maximum numbers in restaurants, cafes and bars linked to capacity of the establishment – taking account of public health advice.
Learn more about the Stay and Spend tax credit incentive.
Open with protective measures in place (for example: physical distancing, table service only, cleaning regimes, noise controls).
Maximum numbers in bars linked to capacity of the establishment – taking account of public health advice.
Nightclubs, discos and casinos
Nightclubs, discos and casinos will remain closed.
Open with protective measures (for example: staff face coverings, signage, hand sanitiser, regular cleaning of hard surfaces, customer details recorded for contact tracing process).
Open with protective measures in place.
There is specific guidance available for:
You can attend work for specific business requirements and on a staggered attendance basis.
No restrictions.
Open with protective measures in place.
All remain open with protective measures in place.
Capacity will be limited on public transport based on the public health advice at the time.
You should travel during off-peak hours if possible.
If possible, you should walk or cycle.
Those aged 70 years and over and the medically vulnerable should exercise judgement regarding the extent to which they engage with others and in activities outside home.
Open with protective measures in place.
The Framework for Restrictive Measures will help us to go about our daily lives as much as possible, while managing the behaviour of the virus. The Framework consists of 5 Levels:
Level 2
At Level 2, the majority of areas of economy and society, for example: schools, restaurants, pubs and gyms, are open.
The priority is to keep schools and childcare facilities open and minimise disruption in the work force.
Sporting activities can continue, but with a higher level of restriction.
In order to keep people safe, you will be asked to limit the number of people you meet at this level.
In your home or garden
Visitors from one other household only or up to 6 visitors from 2 other households or 3 other households.
This will be determined by the prevailing public health advice for the county or other defined geographical area.
Other settings outside your home or garden
Members of different households can continue to meet socially in other settings up to 6 people indoors, 15 outdoors from 1, 2 or 3 other households.
This will be determined by the prevailing public health advice for the county or other defined geographical area.
Up to 50 people can attend a wedding ceremony and reception.
These are controlled environments with a named event organiser, owner or manager.
For example: business, training events, conferences, events in theatres and cinemas or other arts events (excluding sport).
Up to 50 patrons are permitted and in pods or groups of up to 6 if appropriate, with arrangements to ensure no intermingling of groups.
Up to 100 patrons are permitted for larger venues where strict 2 metre seated social distancing and one-way controls for entry and exit can be implemented.
For very large purpose built event facilities (for example: stadia, auditoriums, conference or event centres) specific guidance will be developed with the relevant sectors to take account of size and different conditions for larger events.
These are controlled environments with a named event organiser, owner or manager. For example: outdoor Arts events, training events.
Up to 100 patrons are permitted for the majority of venues.
Up to 200 patrons for outdoor stadia or other fixed outdoor venues with a minimum accredited capacity of 5,000 (with robust protective measures as per sectoral guidance).
For very large purpose built event facilities (for example: stadia, auditoriums, conference or event centres) specific guidance will be developed with the relevant sectors to take account of size and different conditions for larger events.
Training
Outdoors: training can take place in pods of up to 15 (exemption for professional/elite/inter-county sports/senior club championship).
Indoors: training, exercise and dance classes can take place in pods of up to 6 inside (exemption for professional/elite/inter-county sports/senior club championship).
Matches and events
- up to 100 patrons/spectators outdoors and 50 patrons/spectators indoors
- up to 200 for outdoor stadia or other fixed outdoor venues with a minimum accredited capacity of 5,000
For very large purpose built event facilities (for example: stadia, auditoriums, conference or event centres) specific guidance will be developed with the relevant sectors to take account of size and different conditions for larger events.
Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools
These can open with protective measures, taking account of public health advice, including social distancing.
Open with protective measures ( for example, appropriate social distancing, one-way traffic within the venue, removal of communal prayer items) for up to 50 worshipers.
Where the premises allows for a capacity of greater than 50 this may be permitted in separated sub-groupings of no more than 50, with additional protective measures as per guidelines.
Up to 50 mourners can attend.
Open with protective measures (for example, a maximum capacity to allow 2 metre distancing, one-way traffic within the venue).
Maximum numbers are linked to capacity, taking account of public health advice.
Open with protective measures in place (for example: physical distancing, table service only, cleaning regimes, noise controls).
Maximum numbers in restaurants and cafes linked to capacity of establishment, taking account of public health advice, but with individual groups limited to 6 people from up to 3 households.
Learn more about the Stay and Spend tax credit incentive.
Open with robust protective measures in place (for example: physical distancing, table service only, cleaning regimes, noise controls and so on).
Maximum numbers linked to capacity of establishment, taking account of public health advice including appropriate social distancing, but with individual groups limited to 6 people from no more than 3 households or the prevailing advice on the mixing of households.
Nightclubs, discos and casinos
Nightclubs, discos and casinos will remain closed.
Open with protective measures (for example: staff face coverings, signage, hand sanitiser, regular cleaning of hard surfaces, customer details recorded for contact tracing process).
Open with protective measures in place.
There is specific guidance available for:
If you can work from home, you are advised to only attend work for essential on-site meetings, inductions and training.
No restrictions.
Open with protective measures in place.
All remain open with protective measures in place.
Walk or cycle where possible.
Public transport capacity will be limited to 50%.
Peak hours for essential workers and essential purposes only.
Those aged 70 years and over and the medically vulnerable should exercise judgement regarding the extent to which they engage with others and in activities outside home.
Specific guidance will be provided.
Open with enhanced protective measures.
Follow HPSC guidance.
The Framework for Restrictive Measures will help us to go about our daily lives as much as possible, while managing the behaviour of the virus. The Framework consists of 5 Levels:
Level 3
The priority at Level 3 is to keep schools and childcare facilities open and minimise disruption in the work force. This means that a number of services will be moved online, some businesses will be closed (for example: pubs, museums and other indoor cultural venues). Restaurants will remain open for take away and outdoor dining only.
In order to keep people safe, you will be asked to reduce the number of people you meet to a minimum and stay in your own region.
In your home or garden
Visitors from one other household only OR your own household only.
This will be determined by the prevailing public health advice for the county or other defined geographical area.
Other settings outside your home or garden
No social or family gatherings should take place in other settings.
Up to 25 people can attend a wedding ceremony and reception.
These are controlled environments with a named event organiser, owner or manager.
For example: business, training events, conferences, events in theatres and cinemas or other arts events (excluding sport).
No organised indoor gatherings should take place.
These are controlled environments with a named event organiser, owner or manager. For example: outdoor Arts events, training events.
Gatherings of up to 15 people can take place.
Training
Outdoors: Non contact training only in pods of up to 15 (exemption for professional/elite/inter-county sports/senior club championship).
Indoors: Individual training only. No exercise or dance classes.
Matches and events
No matches or events to take place.
Exemption: professional/elite/inter-county/club championship/horse-racing can take place behind closed doors.
Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools
Gyms/leisure centres/swimming pools open with protective measures, for individual training only.
These can open with protective measures, for individual training only.
Services move online. Places of worship remain open for private prayer.
Up to 25 mourners can attend.
All venues closed.
Libraries will be available for e-services and call and collect.
Additional restrictions for indoor dining.
Additional restrictions.
Nightclubs, discos and casinos
Nightclubs, discos and casinos will remain closed.
Open but services limited to residents.
Open with protective measures in place.
There is specific guidance available for:
Work from home unless absolutely necessary to attend in person.
Stay in your county (or other defined geographical area) apart from work, education and other essential purposes, if appropriate.
Schools and creches are open with protective measures.
Further, higher and adult education to escalate all appropriate protective measures and limit congregation as far as possible.
All remain open.
Walk or cycle where possible.
Public transport capacity will be limited to 50%.
Essential workers and essential purposes only.
Those aged 70 years and over and the medically vulnerable should exercise judgement regarding the extent to which they engage with others and in activities outside home.
Specific guidance will be provided.
Suspended, aside from critical and compassionate circumstances.
The Framework for Restrictive Measures will help us to go about our daily lives as much as possible, while managing the behaviour of the virus. The Framework consists of 5 Levels:
Level 4
The priority at Level 4 is to keep schools and childcare services open, while keeping people safe.
Only businesses and services which are essential will be open. No visitors to private homes or social gatherings will be allowed. All businesses and services will be closed, other than those deemed to be essential.
In your home or garden
Own household only – no visitors.
Other settings outside your home or garden
No social or family gatherings should take place in other settings.
Up to 6 guests can attend a wedding ceremony and reception.
These are controlled environments with a named event organiser, owner or manager.
For example: business, training events, conferences, events in theatres and cinemas or other arts events (excluding sport).
No organised indoor gatherings should take place.
These are controlled environments with a named event organiser, owner or manager. For example: outdoor Arts events, training events.
Gatherings of up to 15 people can take place.
Training
Outdoors: Non contact training can take place but only in pods of up to 15.
Indoors: Individual training only. No exercise or dance classes can take place.
Matches and events
No matches or events to take place.
Exemption: Professional and elite sport/inter-county/senior club championship/horse-racing can take place behind closed doors.
Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools
Gyms/leisure centres/swimming pools closed.
Services will be held online.
Places of worship remain open for private prayer.
Up to 25 mourners can attend.
All venues closed.
Online services available.
Take away food or delivery. No indoor dining.
Outdoor dining limited to a maximum of 15 patrons.
Outdoor seating only, limited to a maximum of 15 patrons.
Nightclubs, discos and casinos
Nightclubs, discos and casinos will remain closed.
Open but only for existing guests, and those with essential non-social and non-tourist purposes.
Essential retail and businesses that are primarily outdoors only can remain open. All other retail and personal services closed.
Only essential or other designated workers should go to work.
Stay in your county (or other defined geographical area) apart from essential work, education and other essential purposes.
Schools and creches will remain open with protective measures.
Further, higher and adult education moves primarily online with appropriate protective measures in place for essential attendance on site.
All remain open.
Walk or cycle where possible.
Public transport capacity will be restricted to 25%.
Avoid public transport – essential workers and essential purposes only.
Those aged over 70 years and over and the medically vulnerable should exercise judgement regarding the extent to which they engage with outhers and in activities outside home. Specific guidance will be issued.
Suspended, aside from critical and compassionate circumstances.
The Framework for Restrictive Measures will help us to go about our daily lives as much as possible, while managing the behaviour of the virus. The Framework consists of 5 Levels:
Level 5
At Level 5, the public health risk means that you will be asked to stay at home, except to exercise within 5 kilometres of your home. There will be no gatherings other than small numbers at funerals and weddings.
In your home or garden
Own household only – no visitors.
Other settings outside your home or garden
No social or family gatherings should take place in other settings.
Up to 6 guests can attend a wedding ceremony and reception.
These are controlled environments with a named event organiser, owner or manager.
For example: business, training events, conferences, events in theatres and cinemas or other arts events (excluding sport).
No organised indoor gatherings should take place.
These are controlled environments with a named event organiser, owner or manager. For example: outdoor Arts events, training events.
No organised outdoor gatherings should take place.
Training
Individual training only. No exercise or dance classes.
No matches or events to take place.
Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools
Gyms/leisure centres/swimming pools closed.
Services will be held online.
Places of worship remain open for private prayer.
Up to 10 mourners can attend.
All venues closed.
Online services available.
Take away food or delivery only.
Take away or delivery only.
Nightclubs, discos and casinos will remain closed.
Open only for those with essential non-social and non-tourist purposes.
Essential retail only. All other retail and personal services closed.
Work from home unless it is for working in health, social care or other essential service and cannot be done from home.
Stay at home.
Exercise within 5 kilometres of home.
Open with protective measures in place.
Open with protective measures in place.
Walk or cycle where possible.
Public transport capacity will be restricted to 25%.
Avoid public transport – essential workers and essential purposes only.
Those aged over 70 years and over and the medically vulnerable should exercise judgement regarding the extent to which they engage with outhers and in activities outside home. Specific guidance will be issued.
Suspended, aside from critical and compassionate circumstances.
The Framework for Restrictive Measures will help us to go about our daily lives as much as possible, while managing the behaviour of the virus. The Framework consists of 5 Levels:
Government supports for COVID-19 impacted businesses
There is a wide range of supports available to help businesses impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.
Financial supports, training and guidance to help your business mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and return to work safely.
Income supports
The COVID-19 Income Support Scheme provides financial support to Irish workers and businesses affected by the crisis.
Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme: The new Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), provides a flat-rate subsidy to qualifying employers based on the numbers of eligible employees on the employer’s payroll. The EWSS, operated by Revenue, has replaced the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme and will run until 31 March 2021.
COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment: The Pandemic Unemployment Payment is available to all employees and the self-employed who have lost their job due to the COVID-19 pandemic. New applications for this payment will not be acepted after 17 September 2020. The payment will be in place until April 2021.
http://www.mywelfare.ie/ is the quickest and easiest way to apply for payments.
On MyWelfare.ie all customers can
- 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
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.
COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme
The COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme facilitates up to €2 billion in lending to eligible businesses. Loans under the Scheme range from €10,000 to €1 million, for terms of up to five and a half years. Financing will be offered through a range of products, including term loans, working capital loans and overdrafts. Loans of up to €250,000 under the Scheme are available unsecured (except where this is a requirement of the product feature, as in the case of asset finance, invoice discount facilities, etc). The Scheme is operated by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) through participating finance providers.
COVID-19 Business Loans
COVID-19 Business Loans up to €25,000 are available through Microfinance Ireland with zero repayments and zero interest for the first 6 months and the equivalent of an additional 6 months interest-free subject to certain terms and conditions. The loans can range from €5,000 to €25,000. Repayments will commence in month 7 for the remaining period of your loan. The Government will rebate to you the interest paid in the following 6 months (months 7-12 of your loan). The interest rate after the first 6 months will be a reduced interest rate 4.5% APR if submitted through the Local Enterprise Office Network (or other referral partners) or 5.5% APR if you apply directly to Microfinance Ireland. The loan terms are typically up to 3 years and there are no fees or charges.
COVID-19 Working Capital Scheme
The €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.
Future Growth Loan Scheme
The enhanced Future Growth Loan Scheme makes up to €800m of loans available for terms of 7-10 years. This scheme is available to eligible businesses in Ireland, including those in the primary agriculture (farmers) and seafood sectors, to support strategic long-term investment.
Sustaining Enterprise Fund
The 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 with amounts between €100,000 and €800,000 available to eligible companies who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. The fund includes a 50% non-repayable grant element, up to a limit of €200,000.
Sustaining Enterprise Fund for Small Enterprise
As part of the Sustaining Enterprise Fund, Enterprise Ireland operates a specific Sustaining Enterprise Fund for Small Enterprise. This fund provides 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.
Pandemic Stabilisation and Recovery Fund
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.
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 Plus
The Restart Grant Plus provides direct grant aid to businesses with up to 250 employees to help them with the costs associated with reopening and reemploying workers following COVID-19 closures. The minimum grant is €4,000 and the maximum grant is €25,000. Eligible businesses in Kildare, Laois and Offaly, and pubs, bars and nightclubs that remain closed will be entitled to top-ups. Businesses that accessed funding through the previous round of the scheme are eligible for a top-up payment to a total combined value of the revised maximum grant level.
Enterprise Support Grant
The Enterprise Support Grant for businesses impacted by COVID-19 is available for eligible self-employed people who close their COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment on or 18 May 2020. This will provide business owners with a once-off grant of up to €1,000 to restart their business which was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Micro-Enterprise Assistance Fund
The new Micro-Enterprise Assistance Fund will help businesses with fewer than 10 employees, which are ineligible for existing grants, with a grant of up to €1,000 to help them adapt and invest to rebuild their business. The fund is administered through Local Enterprise Offices.
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.
COVID-19 Online Retail Scheme
The new €5.5 million COVID-19 Online Retail Scheme is open to eligible Irish-owned retail enterprises that had 10 or more employees on or before 29 February 2020 and have the potential to sustain or create jobs, generate growth in online transactions and with an ambition to internationalise their business in the future. Successful applicants will receive funding support of up to 80% of project costs, with a maximum grant of €40,000. This competitive call closes on 28 September at 3pm.
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. Contact your Local Enterprise Office for further details.
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 Continuity 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.
Powering the Regions – Enterprise Centre Fund
The Powering the Regions – Enterprise Centre Fund, administered by Enterprise Ireland, provides financial support to enterprise centres impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible enterprise centres can apply for funding of a minimum of €10,000 and up to a maximum of €150,000.
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.
COVID Products Scheme
The COVID Products Scheme will allow for up to €200m in targeted State support to facilitate the research and development of COVID products, to enable the construction or upgrading of testing and upscaling infrastructures that contribute to the development COVID-19 relevant products, as well as to support the production of products needed to respond to the outbreak. The scheme will be delivered through IDA Ireland’s COVID-19 supports and Enterprise Ireland’s COVID-19 Business Response.
Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme
The Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme, delivered by SOLAS, provides financial support for apprenticeship employers who take on apprentices on national apprenticeship programmes. Apprenticeship employers are eligible for a €3,000 payment for each new apprentice.
Commercial rates waiver
With limited exceptions, all businesses will be granted a waiver of commercial rates for the six months to end-September 2020. Updates will be available on housing.gov.ie and from local authorities.
‘Warehousing’ of deferred tax debts
The scheme, administered by Revenue, will ‘warehouse’ VAT and PAYE (Employer) debts associated with the COVID-19 crisis.
Reduction in the standard rate of VAT
A six-month reduction in the standard rate of Value-Added Tax (VAT) from 23% to 21% will apply, effective from 1 September 2020.
Stay and Spend incentive
The Stay and Spend scheme will incentivise taxpayers to support domestic providers of accommodation and/or food during the off-season 1 October 2020 to 30 April 2021 through tax credits.
Advice for taxpayers and agents
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 and interest suspension arrangements.
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.
Seafood sector
Bord Iascaigh Mhara is providing COVID-19 business support to the seafood sector.
Farm businesses
Teagasc is available to provide support on issues facing farm businesses in light of COVID-19.
Tourism sector
The Fáilte Ireland COVID-19 Business Support Hub is targeting its supports to respond to the challenges tourism businesses are now facing. Their supports include specific reopening guidelines for every sector and a €26m COVID-19 Adaptation Fund to support tourism and hospitality businesses who have incurred related adaptation costs.
Culture sector
The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht’s has provided guidance on the latest COVID-19 protocols for the cultural sector. New supports to aid employment in the creative industries include the Live Performance Support Scheme and the Music Stimulus Package.
Design sector
The Design & Craft Council Ireland delivers a range of support and development programmes, including webinars and FAQs in response to COVID-19.
Childcare providers
The Department of Children and Youth Affairs funding package of €75 million for reopening early learning and childcare services helps with additional costs associated with reopening after COVID-19.
Supply chain workers
The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Department of Health have prepared COVID-19 guidance for supply chain workers.
Restaurants to operate as takeaways
Amendments to Planning and Development Regulations temporarily allow restaurants to operate as takeaways without being required to obtain change of use planning permission.
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 PPE.
Guidance on the manufacture and distribution of medical devices, PPE and barrier masks
- placing PPE on the EU market–new conformity procedures (HSA): COVID–19 Conformity Assessment and Market Surveillance procedures for PPE
- manufacturing and importing PPE and medical devices (NSAI): guidance on manufacturing and importing PPE and Medical Devices to ensure compliance
- guidance on barrier masks (CCPC): Guidance for business on producing or distributing barrier masks
- specification on barrier masks (NSAI): SWiFT 19:2020 barrier masks for consumers – Requirements
Online COVID-19 platform to help firms collaborate
Companies aiming to help healthcare responses to the COVID-19 crisis can collaborate via a new online COVID-19 platform.
The government offers a range of initiatives for reskilling and upskilling to help businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic. The skills supports include Enterprise Ireland’s eiLearn online learning resource, LEOs training webinars, the Skillnet Ireland and Regional Skills Fora networks, the SOLAS Skills to Advance initiative and Springboard+ courses.
For details on the range of skills supports visit COVID-19: Skills and training supports for businesses.
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.
Online courses
The new HSA Return to Work Safely online courses includes a course to help understand the Return to Work Safely Protocol requirements and a course for those appointed Lead Worker Representative.
Templates and checklists
The HSA COVID-19 templates and checklists – based on the Return to Work Safely Protocol – have been prepared to help employers, business owners and managers to get their business up and running again and to inform workers about what they need to do to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.
Data Protection
The Data Protection – Return to Work Safely Protocol guidance document has been prepared to assist in providing clarification where the measures set out in the Return to Work Safely Protocol may result in the processing of personal data.
Business continuity
- Business Continuity Planning COVID-19 Checklist: The DBEI checklist on Business Continuity Planning provides a checklist for businesses in responding to COVID-19.
- Workplace Protection and Improvement: The NSAI COVID-19 Workplace Protection and Improvement Guide consolidates the practical guidance available on how to manage business continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic, in relation to workers and the public.
- Retail Protection and Improvement: The NSAI COVID-19 Retail Protection and Improvement Guide consolidates the practical guidance available on how to manage business continuity of the retail sector during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Shopping Centre Recovery and Protection: The NSAI COVID-19 Shopping Centre Recovery and Protection Guide provides guidance for shopping centres restoring business operations following a disruption or closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Tourism businesses guidelines for reopening: Fáilte Ireland has published sector specific operational guidelines for the tourism industry to ensure the safe reopening of tourism businesses.
- ReBound – Back to Business. Safely: The Skillnet Ireland ReBound initiative offers guidance to SME owners and managers on implementing the Return to Work Safely Protocol.
- Working remotely: Guidance on working remotely during COVID-19 for employers and employees seeking to engage with remote working solutions.
- HSA advice for employers and employees: Advice for employers and employees and FAQs for employers and employees on home-working
The Department of Health has issued a range of COVID-19 posters and graphics including face covering posters and safe guidelines for work, home, public transport, outdoors and shopping.
Posters, leaflets and other resources for use in workplaces and communities are also available on the HSE website at COVID-19 posters and resources and the HSA website at hsa.ie/covid19.
The Supports for businesses impacted by COVID-19 booklet details the key supports and resources available to help businesses.
Contact the DBEI 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: [email protected]
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: [email protected]
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: [email protected]
Want to get €5, absolutely free? Sign up to the ‘Smart’ Debit Card – Curve today, and earn a fiver on us! Find out more here.