Ireland

No amount/estimate: The Central Bank has cut the Counter Cyclical Capital Buffer from 1% to 0%. This decision will free up bank capital that can be used to provide credit, and to restructure and extend the loans of bank customers, both individuals and SMEs.

No amount/estimate: Local Enterprise Offices in every county will be providing vouchers from EUR2,500 up to EUR10,000; a Finance in Focus grant of EUR7,200 will be available to Enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta clients; the government agreed with local authorities that they should defer business rates payments due from the most immediately affected businesses until the end of May 2020; variety of taxation measures to alleviate short-term difficulties. For example, interest on late payments and all debt enforcement activity have been suspended and current tax clearance status will remain in place for all businesses; moratoriums on evictions and rent increases for duration of Covid emergency. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities has issued a moratorium on disconnections of domestic customers for non-payment to the gas and electricity suppliers.

2 May 2020, EUR2 billion (estimate) for a three month commercial rates waiver for impacted businesses and the ‘warehousing’ of tax liabilities for a period of twelve months after recommencement of trading during which time there will be no debt enforcement action taken by Revenue and no interest charge accruing in respect of the warehoused debt.

(i) 16 March 2020, The government has established the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) as an emergency support for workers, including the self-employed, who have lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic. This has cost approximately EUR5.9 billion so far. 3 March 2021, The support has been extended until 30 June 2021, with an estimated cost of EUR1.6 billion; (ii) 6 August 2020, The Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration announced over EUR2.32 million in capital grant funding for 147 targeted staff-led youth projects/services and 25 national youth organizations across the country; (iii) 7 August 2020, Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration, announced funding of over EUR618,000 which is being allocated by Tusla to Family Resource Centers (FRCs) across the country; (iv) No amount/estimate: 21 September 2021, A special payment of up to EUR1,860 from the Social Insurance Fund will be given to workers made redundant who have lost reckonable service while in receipt of the PUP or other jobseekers payment over the pandemic.

(i) 9 March 2020, The government has so far announced a stimulus package of EUR6.3 billion (3.2% of GDP) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic which includes EUR3.7 billion announced on 24 March 2020 to cover the cost of a new Wage Subsidy Scheme. 23 June 2020, Changes to the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) to accommodate apprentices on off-the-job training. 1 September 2020, Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) replaces TWSS. Employers and new firms in sectors impacted by COVID-19 whose turnover has fallen 30% will get a flat-rate subsidy per week based on the number of qualifying employees on the payroll, including seasonal staff and new employees. 3 March 2021, EWSS is extended until 30 June 2021 with an estimated cost EUR1.3 billion, and further extended until 31 October 2021; (ii) 2 May 2020, EUR250 million "Restart Grant" for micro and small businesses based on a rates/waiver rebate from 2019. 15 May 2020, Approved details of the "Restart Grant" for small businesses (for costs associated with reopening and reemploying workers). Grants will be available to businesses with turnover of less than EUR5 million and employing 50 people or less, with at least 25% reduction in turnover by 30 June 2020. The grants will be equivalent to the rates bill of the business in 2019, with a minimum payment of EUR 2,000 and maximum of EUR 10,000. Applications open on Friday, 22 May 2020. 10 August 2020, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment announced key changes to the "Restart Grant" scheme including EUR300 million additional funding in addition to EUR250 million previously committed (For details, see: https://bit.ly/30Rf5e1); (iii) 7 May 2020, EUR180 million for the Sustaining Enterprise Fund, which offers funding of up to EUR800,000, with EUR200,000 or 50% in non-repayable grants to eligible manufacturing and internationally traded services companies. 9 February 2021, a further EUR90 million has been allocated to the fund. 5 August 2021, a further EUR20 million is being provided for the fund; (iv) 23 July 2020, EUR5.4 billion Jobs Stimulus to help businesses re-open, get people back to work and promote confidence. 12 August 2020, Enterprise, Trade and Employment, launched a new EUR12 million Enterprise Center Fund (which is part of the July Stimulus package) to help enterprise centers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Fund is open to both not-for-profit and for-profit enterprise centers which have seen their income significantly impacted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Grant funding of between EUR10,000 and EUR150,000 is available. The grants will help them implement a recovery plan to reboot their centers over the next six to twelve months. 20 August 2020, Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, launched a new EUR5.5 million COVID-19 Online Retail Scheme as announced in the Government’s July Jobs Stimulus package; (v) 14 August 2020, Announced a package of measures for businesses in Kildare, Laois and Offaly, which have been adversely impacted by renewed COVID-19 restrictions. Eligible businesses will now be entitled to a 20% top-up, bringing the new minimum for affected counties to EUR4,800 and the new maximum to EUR30,000. Those that applied and received a grant previously, can re-apply and receive a second grant, with 20% additional on the new rate. EUR1 million is being ring-fenced for the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) in the three counties to increase engagement with local businesses to ensure they are aware of the loans, grants and vouchers they are entitled to. Applications from affected counties will be prioritized for all existing schemes, including the Sustaining Enterprise Fund. Fáilte Ireland is being allocated EUR1 million to undertake a promotional campaign focused on increasing the appeal of these counties to visitors and drive bookings; (vi) 28 August 2020, EUR16 million package for pubs, bars, and nightclubs. This includes waiver of court fees and associated excise and stamp duties relating to the renewal of pub and other liquor licenses in 2020 and of excise duty on on-trade liquor licenses on renewal in 2020; (vii) 13 October 2020, Government presented 2021 budget including additional measures for COVID response: EUR10 million to help businesses move online with the Online Retail Scheme; (viii) No amount/estimate: 6 November 2020, The government launched the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) to assist those businesses whose trade has been significantly impacted or temporarily closed as a result of the restrictions as set out in the government’s ‘Living with COVID-19’ Plan. Businesses can apply for a cash payment in respect of an advance credit for trading expenses for the period of the restrictions; (ix) 10 November 2020, A revised EUR80 million operational and capital support for Irish aviation. 24 February 2021, EUR26 million of the (EUR80 million) State aid support for airports has been approved by the EC. 19 April 2021, EUR11 million has been allocated to 4 regional airports; 9 February 2021, (x) EUR10 million will be allocated to the COVID-19 Products Scheme. Firms researching or manufacturing PPE, sanitizers, tests, equipment or other medicinal products are eligible for funding of up to 50% of their capital costs; (xi) EUR60 million for the COVID-19 Business Aid Scheme (CBAS) to provide grants to businesses ineligible for the government’s other existing schemes designed to help with fixed costs. Wholesalers, suppliers, caterers and events companies down 75% or more in turnover will benefit. 11 March 2021. CBAS was changed to SBASC (Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID). 18 May 2021, Eligibility for the SBASC has been extended to businesses operating from non-rateable premises such as a home office or hot-desk. Self-employed working from home, wedding planners, on-course bookmakers, travel counsellors and photographers among those expected to benefit; (xii) 9 March 2021, EUR14 million for the Music Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme (MEBAS) to contribute to the overheads of businesses live music entertainment industry that have been significantly negatively affected by COVID-19 and that do not qualify for other business supports; (xiii) 4 May 2021, EUR5 million for the new round of the COVID-19 Online Retail Scheme to help Irish businesses to upgrade their websites and improve their competitiveness in online retail; (xiv) No amount/estimate: 18 May 2021, The Micro Enterprise Assistance Scheme has been reopened to help smallest businesses. It will provide a grant of up to EUR1,000 to businesses with previous turnover of less than EUR50,000 that meet the other criteria for SBASC; (xv) 15 July 2021, EUR11.5 million for the new Events Sector Covid Support Scheme (ESCSS), which is a once-off scheme to support SMEs who provide services to the events industry; (xvi) 16 July 2021, EUR85 million from the Recovery and Resilience Facility will be spent on the digitalization of companies; (xvii) 5 August 2021, EUR31 million for the new Accelerated Recovery Fund which provides liquidity to companies to support significant necessary investment in capital and digital capability for productivity improvements; (xviii) No amount/estimate: 6 September 2021, Launch of the Business Resumption Support Scheme (BRSS), a single payment for companies with turnover reduced by 75% in the period (1 September 2020 to 31 August 2021) compared with 2019.

(i) 4 June 2020, EUR6 million Enterprise Ireland funding for access to cutting edge R&D equipment in Technology Gateways and centers to increase R&D collaboration and competitiveness for companies; (ii) 9 June 2020, EUR30 million for the Rural Development Investment Programme under Project Ireland 2040 to support the social and economic recovery of rural communities over the coming months; (iii) 2 July 2020, EUR6.5 million funding to digitalize sales for retailers; (iv) 22 July 2020, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science announced a EUR168 million package of support to costs incurred by third level institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic and enable further and higher education students to return to college this September. 27 August 2020, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, announced an additional allocation of EUR25 million for capital works and equipment in higher education institutions; (v) 27 July 2020, Government approves over EUR375 million support package and publishes Roadmap to enable safe return of schools. See details in this link: https://bit.ly/3iE7oO6; (vi) 5 August, 2020, EUR2.8 million package to assist libraries to adapt to COVID-19 has been announced by the Minister for Rural and Community Development; (vii) 9 September 2020, EUR5 million for the Live Performance Support Scheme (LPSS) to provide employment opportunities in the ticketed performance sector and allow commercial organizers of live performances to commence preparations immediately and productions to go ahead in the near future while also complying with public health protection measures; and EUR1 million for the Music Stimulus Package to ensure that Irish musicians, engineers, PR, media, agents, labels and publishers can continue to develop and share their work in the context of COVID restrictions. 9 March 2021, EUR36 million support to the to live performance sector including: EUR25 million for the LPSS to provide significant job opportunities for musicians, performers, crew and support staff; EUR5 million to local authorities to facilitate programming of outdoor live performances in summer 2021 animating town centers for local communities, should public health considerations permit; EUR5 million as capital support (i.e. support the installation of high quality recording and streaming facilities in venues) for the commercial live entertainment sector; EUR1 million for the St. Patrick’s Festival 2021 to support the employment of performers, producers, artists, technicians, creatives and support staff; (viii) 11 December 2020, Total available funding for the COVID-19 Stability Fund for Community and Voluntary Organizations, Charities and Social Enterprises reaches EUR45 million with an additional EUR10 million. As of 1 October 2021, To date, EUR48.5 million has been provided to the fund; (viii) As of 23 December 2020, EUR189.7 million has been allocated to Ireland for the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) under NexGenerationEU. Areas supported by the fund include assistance in the setting up of young farmers, agri-environmental and climate measures, assistance for areas facing natural constraints, support for organic farming, protection of biodiversity, investment in the agri-food and forestry sectors, etc.; (ix) 1 March 2021, EUR300 thousand to support students from Traveller communities progressing to higher education and providing them with support during their studies, such as by developing study spaces, health, social or technology supports, and help with caring responsibilities; (x) 31 March 2021, EUR17 million for the Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme which will provide funding for individual tourism and hospitality businesses to develop and increase their own outdoor seating capacity, and enable local authorities to develop permanent outdoor public dining spaces in towns and urban centers, similar to those that exist in various European cities; (xi) 6 April 2021, EUR126,780 further funding to promote Irish arts globally in 2021. The funding is to support 23 projects presenting Irish film, literature, music, theatre and the visual arts worldwide; (xii) 23 April 2021, EUR14 million for outdoor recreation projects and investment that will support the adventure tourism sector in rural communities; (xiii) 26 April 2021, EUR15 million for the Additional Outdoor Infrastructure Fund to support local authorities in enhancing outdoor urban space and improving walking and cycling infrastructure; (xiv) 3 May 2021, EUR15 million for the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, which is designed to breathe new life into rural communities - making them more attractive places to live, work, socialize and raise a family; (xv) 10 May 2021, EUR4.5 million for the 2021 Community Enhancement Program (CEP) which will provide small grants designed to assist in the re-opening of facilities such as community centers, men’s and women’s sheds, parish halls and youth centers; (xvi) 11 May 2021, EUR40 million for the expanded summer program to include pupils with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage; (xi) 16 July 2021, With the EC's endorsement, Ireland will be using the EUR989 million grant from the Recovery and Resilience Facility of NextGenerationEU for measures to support green transition and digital transition and economic and social resilience. Of the total allocation for reforms and investments in France's recovery and resilience plan, 42% (about EUR415.38 million) supports climate objectives, while 32% (about EUR316.48 million) supports digital objectives. EUR85 billion is allocated for the digitization of companies. To reinforce Ireland's economic and social resilience, EUR40 million will be spent to support higher quality education, and EUR114 million for reskilling and upskilling, among others; (xii) 6 October 2021, EUR9.3 million for the Regional Enterprise Transition Scheme (RETS) which targets existing regional and community-based projects and focuses on improving the capability and competitiveness of these enterprises, and encouraging entrepreneurial activity, sustainability, innovation and productivity; (xiii) 7 October 2021, EUR380 thousand in support for family carers through the learning of new digital skills designed to facilitate a return to paid employment.(xiv) 11 November 2021, EUR9 million for the Community Activities Fund which will support groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with their running costs such as utility or insurance bills, as well as with improvements to their facilities [update].

(i) 9 March 2020, The government has so far announced a stimulus package of EUR6.3 billion (3.2% of GDP) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic which includes EUR200 million direct financial support for businesses; (ii) As of 23 December 2020, EUR89 million has been allocated to Ireland under REACT_EU (Recovery Assistance for Cohesion and the Territories of Europe) of NextGenerationEU. REACT-EU funds are intended to support: job maintenance, including through short-time work schemes and support for the self-employed; job creation and youth employment measures; health care systems; and the provision of working capital and investment support for small and medium-sized enterprises. The additional support will also serve to invest in the European Green Deal and digital transition, as an enhancement to the significant investment in those areas that is already taking place through EU cohesion policy; (iii) No amount/estimate: 10 March 2021, Extension of the contracts of participants under the Community Employment (CE) and TÚS schemes until 21 July 2021. CE and TÚS schemes are employment support and activation measures for the long-term unemployed and others in receipt of long-term payments from the Department of Social Protection.

(i) GBP3.2 billion (about EUR3.704) of UK's bilateral loan to Ireland as part of an international assistance package; (ii) 21 September 2020, EIB expects to provide more than EUR1 billion to support new COVID-19 and Brexit business financing programmes, climate action and education investment in Ireland in 2020 and work closely with Irish authorities to implement the National Recovery Plan; (iii) As of 23 December 2020, EUR189.7 million has been allocated to Ireland for the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) under NexGenerationEU; (iv) As of 23 December 2020, EUR89 million has been allocated to Ireland under REACT_EU (Recovery Assistance for Cohesion and the Territories of Europe) of NextGenerationEU; (v) 16 July 2021, EU989 million in grants under the Recovery and Resilience Facility to support Ireland's recovery and resilience plan. Ireland’s plan will support energy efficiency, sustainable mobility, biodiversity and ecosystems, the digitalisation of public administration and businesses and contribute to up-skilling.