DECEMBER UPDATES

Dec 22nd

Latest update from Department of The Taoiseach 22.12.2020 https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2dc71-level-5/

Latest update on Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme

Please refer to the Updated Guidelines from Revenue

Dec 8th

Minister Humphries has reassured workers that PUP will remain open for new claims until March 2021; any worker who returns to work, only to have the business closes again in the New Year, will be able to avail of the payment. The easiest way to close a claim for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is online via www.MyWelfare.ie. Any worker returning to work with an enquiry about closing their claim, can contact the Department’s dedicated income support helpline at 1890 800 024 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.

Any employer who has difficulty in attracting the workers back to the workplace, or suspects that someone is mis-claiming welfare income support can contact the Department at c19employerreports@welfare.ie; the Department will be happy to review cases where these complaints arise. Employers can be assured that officials in the Department will follow up on these notifications.

If an employer is seeking assistance in recruiting for vacant positions, the Employer Relations team will be happy to help; please email employer@welfare.ie to set out your requirements and we’ll be happy to help.

Dec 7th

NSAI - COVID 19 Retail Protection and Improvement Guide Here
NSAI-COVID19-Guidelines-Shopping here

Tourism & Hospitality Industry Sector. Fáilte Ireland updated guidelines for the tourism and hospitality industry to reflect Government Public Health advice. Visit COVID-19 Business Supports Hub for expert advice, guidance and FAQ. Businesses can download the toolkit for printable assets outlining key safety measures here. It’s important that we all stay safe. Paul Kelly, CEO, Fáilte Ireland

Dec 1st

Your quick guide to Level 3 and the Christmas regulations Visit Gov.ie

NOVEMBER UPDATES

Nov 26th Brexit supports https://www.localenterprise.ie/Louth/Brexit/Brexit/

Click here to view Louth LEO Brexit presentation

Nov 10th

Level 5 restrictions / Covid Restrictions Support Scheme / Update from the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine / Update from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. Read latest update here

OCTOBER UPDATES

Oct 20th Level 5 restrictions Visit Gov.ie

COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment Visit Citizens Information (update 20th October)

New EWSS Subsidy Rates schedule effective 20 October 2020

Oct 19th-Micro-Enterprise Assistance Fund extended until November 13th at 5pm. For application forms and eligibility criteria, click here
The enhanced Trading Online Voucher Scheme has also been extended. For more information on the scheme, and for application forms, click here

Oct 15th - Latest Level 3 update-visit Gov.ie

Oct 13th -Fáilte Ireland Covid-19 Adaptation Fund (updated)

Oct 12- FACEBOOK - SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS PROGRAMME Closing date Oct 15th Click here to find out more

Oct 5th Level 3 Visit Gov.ie

Agency supports to help Irish businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic

Guidelines for opening Restaurants & Cafes Here

SEPTEMBER UPDATES

September 30th

Latest Update; SMEs; A Guide to COVID-19 Financial Support Measures

September 25th

Micro-Enterprise Assistance Fund is now open for Applications.
This fund is a new support for small businesses who have not been able to avail of other business supports, including the ReStart Grant. With grants of between €500 and €1000 small businesses can apply now to avail of this fund. For application forms and eligibility criteria, click here:
Closing date is 5pm 9th October, so do not delay

September 22nd

A National 5-Level Framework is now in place to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

TO DOWNLOAD OR VIEW THE COMPLETE FRAMEWORK, CLICK HERE

September 17th

COVID-19 PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT PAYMENT | NEW RATES OF PAYMENT AS OF TODAY, 17 SEPTEMBER

Average weekly earnings Over €300 Personal rate €300

Average weekly earnings Over €200 - €300 Personal rate €250

Average weekly earnings Less than €200 Personal rate €203

Since 29 June 2020, the rate of COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is linked to your previous earnings.

The DEASP has access to this information from Revenue. Click here for further information.

September 16th

COVID-19: THE NEXT PHASE - ONLINE ROADMAP - ONLINE ROADMAP CLICK HERE.

New ESRI Report on SME’s Features Chambers Ireland Survey Data -TO ACCESS THE ESRI REPORT CLICK HERE

Extension of Redundancy Provisions Announced Today - FOR MORE INFO CLICK HERE

Revenue Notice -July/August Sweepback-Backdate Claims - CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

September 15th

€600 million in funding agreed for health service Winter Initiative Read More Here

Sept 14th

NEW MICROENTERPRISE ASSISTANCE FUND
A new Micro-Enterprise Assistance Fund has been announced, to 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.

About 2,000 businesses nationwide will benefit from the Fund. FOR MORE INFO & ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, CLICK HERE

Sept 14th

NEW BPFI COVID-19 GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS

The Banking & Payments Federation Ireland has published two new guidance documents in relation to supports for businesses amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

The new documents are as follows and available by clicking on their titles:

A Guide to the Government COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme

SMEs: A Guide to COVID-19 Financial Support Measures

Sept 1st

Credit Guarantee Scheme is a useful addition in suite of supports, but business still needs more from Government

Read the latest information on how Ireland is responding to cases of COVID-19. Here

AUGUST UPDATES

August 20; Re-Opening of Tourism & Hospitality - Fáilte Ireland can help cover your costs

https://www.droghedachamber.ie/blog/re-opening-of-tourism-hospitality-businesses

August 18; New measures to limit the spread of COVID-19

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/77b6d-statement-on-the-introduction-of-new-measures-to-limit-the-spread-of-covid-19/

Updates on Enterprise/ Economic supports - Louth

Restart Grant Plus (Aug 13) New applicants for the scheme can complete the online application form available on LCC website https://www.louthcoco.ie/en/covid-19/business-re-start-grant/
Town and Village 2020 Covid Accelerated Measure
Creative and Cultural Jobs Stimulus Measure Funding 2020
https://www.droghedachamber.ie/blog/updates-on-enterprise-economic-supports-louth

Creative Ireland Programme and the Louth Culture and Creativity Strategy 2018-2022 on: www.creativeireland.gov.ie Submissions outlining your proposal, must be received by Tuesday 25th August 2020 at 4pm. Submissions by email only to creativeireland@louthcoco.ie

Check out HSE.ie updates ;

Shopping Safely https://www2.hse.ie/wellbeing/shopping-safely-coronavirus/shopping-safely-coronavirus.html

Latest updates https://www.gov.ie/en/news/7e0924-latest-updates-on-covid-19-coronavirus/

How to use Face Coverings correctly https://www.droghedachamber.ie/blog/how-to-use-face-coverings

FACE COVERINGS; The below link contains three posters relating to face coverings for download/print/display.

Click here for posters

Government supports for COVID-19 impacted businesses Here

Phase 4 of the Roadmap for reopening Ireland delayed

Following yesterday's Cabinet meeting, the Government announced that the move to Phase 4 that was planned for 10 August 2020 will now be delayed for at least 3 weeks until 31 August 2020.

Additional measures announced include:

Pubs that do not serve food will not be able to reopen on Monday 10 August 2020
Restaurants will have to close at 11pm
Face coverings will become mandatory in shops and shopping centres from 10 August 2020
The current restrictions on indoor and outdoor gatherings will continue with up to 50 people allowed to gather indoors and up to 200 allowed to gather outdoors

Click here for more details

Dept of Employment Affairs & Social Protection COVID-19 Update | Extension of Suspension of certain Redundancy Provisions & extension of COVID-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit

The Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD, has secured government approval to extend the suspension of redundancy provisions relating to temporary lay-off and short-time work, which arose as a result of COVID-19 until 17 September.
The Minister also secured approval to extend the duration of the COVID-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit until 31 March.

Click here for more details

Minister Troy welcomes Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (COVID-19) Bill 2020
GOVERNMENT UPDATE:

Businesses can hold AGM’s, general meetings and creditors’ meetings by electronic means
Threshold at which company is deemed unable to pay its debts increased to €50,000
Examinership increased to 150 days READ THE PRESS RELEASE IN FULL

July updates

July Jobs Stimulus doc. Further information on the Stimulus can be found here: Click here to read

Check out Chambers ireland updates;

SMEs: A Guide to COVID-19 Financial Support Measures

Banks and SMEs: the business of lending and borrowing

COVID-19 CREDIT GUARANTEE SCHEME

The Government has agreed to publish the Credit Guarantee (Amendment) Bill 2020, which will underpin the new COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme and will also remove the portfolio cap, which will result in an increased potential maximum liability for the State of €1.6 billion. The legislation is expected to go through the Oireachtas next week.

For further info, click here

MICROENTERPRISE LOAN FUND (AMENDMENT) BILL 2020 - SIGNED INTO LAW
Last Friday 10th July, it was confirmed by the Office of the President of Ireland that the Microenteprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2020 had been signed into law.
The Microenterprise Loan (Amendment) Bill allows for increased funding for Microfinance Ireland (MFI) which provides loans of up to €50,000 to businesses employing ten staff or less.
For further information on this Bill (now signed into law), click here.

COVID-19 OFFICIAL TRACKER APP NOW AVAILABLE;

The Irish Government have launched the official (Free) COVID-19 Tracker App.

alert you if you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for Coronavirus

advise you on what to do to protect yourself and others

alert other app users that you were in close contact with, if you test positive for Coronavirus

Click here for more info & for the download links to the App

The Enterprise Support Grant will be available to assist eligible self-employed recipients who are coming off COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme after 25th June 2020.This will be a once-off grant of up to €1,000 to re-start their business which employ fewer than 10 people https://www.gov.ie/en/service/739f3-enterprise-support-grant-for-buisnesses-impacted-by-covid-19/

Louth County Enterprise Fund Now that you have mastered Skype and Zoom, why not try some other Digital Tools that help develop business and make communication and planning more efficient. Check out www.digitalchangemakers.eu for more detail – especially ‘Learning Resources’ Mob: 087-2341455 Email: info@thefund.ie www.thefund.ie

June

Phase 3 of Ireland's Roadmap for reopening which is in place right now June 29th

COVID 19 Business Supports

https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/

Following last Friday's address from An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD, The Department of the Taoiseach has published new documents on the Revision of the different Phases of the Reopening of Society and Business. Revised Reopening Infographic

The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation has published a new infographic featuring an overview of non-repayable COVID-19 supports for reopening your business.

PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT PAYMENT & ENHANCED ILLNESS BENEFIT
Please click the link below for updates to review on the payments awarded as part of the response to COVID-19, specifically around continued eligibility for the payments and rules around ending the payments, including:

Pandemic Unemployment Payment
COVID-19 Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme
COVID-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit Payment

Please Click HERE

The Return to Work Safely Protocol,

is the result of a collaborative effort by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), the Health Services Executive (HSE) and the Department of Health and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation. Download Report

Anglo Printers Covid-19 Safety Signage Brochure & Pricing

GM Print	gary@gmprint.ie	www.gmprint.ie	041 9844321
Weprint	info@weprint.ie	www.weprint.ie	041 9804445
Anglo Printers**	peter@angloprinters.ie	www.angloprinters.ie	041 9835000
First Print & Label	sales@firstprintdigital.ie	www.firstprintdigital.ie	041 9800048
Winters Consumables	fergus@winbetconsumables.com	www.wintersprint.com	041 9839830
Boylan Print*	miboylan@boylangroup.net	www.boylanprintgroup.ie	041 983 9905
All Signs & Labels	info@asal.ie	www.asal.ie	087 2396233
Go Mac Signs	bobby@gomac.ie	www.gomac.ie	087 2416216
JK Office Furniture**	info@jkofficefurniture.ie	www.jkofficefurniture.ie	087 2539077
Medikit (PPE)	sales@medikit.ie	www.medikit.ie	041 9816652
O'Sullivan Safety (PPE)	drogheda@osullivan-safety.ie	www.osullivansafety.ie	041 9831155
Beulah Print	info@beulahprint.ie;	www.beulahprint.ie	041 9810505
Murduff Enterprise (PPE)	info@murduffenterprises.ie	www.murduffenterprise.ie	041 9804244
Budget Signs	valdarcy@gmail.com	www.budgetsigns.ie	087 633 9467
Noel Kelly Safety Services	training@kellysafetyservices.ie	www.kellysafetyservices.ie	041 984 2668
Sheelin Group Commercial Interiors**	info@sheelingroup.com	www.sheelingroup.com	041 9891667
Listoke Distillery	bronagh@listokedistillery.ie	www.listokedistillery.com	041 2145044
Solv-x	accounts@solv-x.com		042 9377055

* Also making face shields *

**Sneeze Guards**

The Impact of COVID-19 on Global and EU Trade -The Chief Economist Team published a report.

Some of the key findings include:

9.7% decrease in global trade for 2020

9.2% reduction in extra-EU27 exports of goods and services in 2020

8.7% decrease in extra-EU27 imports 2020

Further information https://www.droghedachamber.ie/blog/covid-19-roadmap-for-reopening-society-busines

Financial Planning - LHK Insurance April 30th

Worldwide Health Organisation Survey here.

Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme - Employer Eligibility Updated

Resources for Businesses

COVID-19 Through our affiliation with Chambers Ireland, we have been in regular contact with the various government departments and we will continue to relay important notices and updates to members via email and across our Social Media Platforms. https://www.chambers.ie/media/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-business/

WATCH: A ‘How-To’ video on how to shop safely under new public health advice

https://twitter.com/roinnslainte/status/1246112181269213190