A new grant has been announced to help self-employed sole traders get back on their feet following Covid-19.
This grant, worth up to €1,000 per person, is aimed at sole traders such as plumbers, electricians, carpenters, taxi drivers etc, who do not pay commercial rates and therefore do not qualify for the Government’s Restart Grant Plus Scheme.
These once-off supports are targetted towards self-employed people who have been severely impacted and have had to cease operations as a result of the Pandemic.
Social Protection Minister, Heather Humphreys, T.D., has today opened applications for the newly revamped Enterprise Support Grant.
She said: “Whether it’s paying wages, fuel costs, purchasing PPE or signage – this is an important grant to assist the self-employed to reopen their business and get back doing what they do best: Providing crucial and essential services in their communities.
“So if you’re a plumber, carpenter, beautician, gardener or electrician who is transitioning back to work, or the taxi driver getting your car back on the road – this grant may be of interest to you.”
The Department of Social Protection has stated that this Grant will assist those people who transitioned from the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment into self-employment since May 18th, which marked Phase One of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business.
The support is available to small business owners who employ fewer than 10 people, are not liable for commercial rates and have an annual turnover of less than €1 million – providing kick-start funding to those enterprises that do not have an entitlement to other business re-start grants.
It will be paid on the basis of expenditure incurred by an applicant to re-open their business covering their costs up to €1,000.
Anyone wishing to apply for the grant can download the application form on www.welfare.ie and, when completed should be sent to their local Intreo Centre.
