Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan Monaghan, Brendan Smith has called for strong state financial support for small and medium enterprises as they emerge from the uncertainty of the Covid-19 restrictions.
Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Brendan Smith commented, “We need to ensure we help maintain viable business and employment and provide businesses with certainty to the maximum extent possible.
“The Covid restrictions support scheme, CRSS, is a good and essential support to businesses that have witnessed a major reduction in their turnover. Again, the EWSS supports employment and supports employers to maintain the link with the employee.”
The Cavan Monaghan TD continued: “I welcome the fact the small business assistance scheme, SBAS, was introduced last month. In quarter 1, that will allow a maximum payment of €4,000 to companies, the self-employed, sole traders and partnerships. I have raised a number of queries with regard to this particular scheme.
“I am aware of a number of business owners who were deemed ineligible for this new scheme due to having claimed under the CRSS. The amount received was much lower than what they would receive under the SBAS.“
Deputy Smith added: “I would like the Minister to look at this again with his colleagues across Government. Such businesses, which will struggle to remain open in the future, should be allowed to avail of the SBAS. Some of the applicants availing of a very small CRSS payment were not aware of the small businesses assistance scheme when claiming under the other schemes. They are small traders and one-person enterprises. Those are the types of business that populate the main streets in our smaller towns and villages.
“I appeal for Government to place a particular emphasis on and give particular assistance to the smaller-scale businesses in order that they can develop an online presence and help in protecting employment,” concluded Deputy Smith.
