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
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 hereOct 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 HERESept 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
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.
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
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.
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 HEREThe 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
041 9844321
Weprint
041 9804445
Anglo Printers**
041 9835000
First Print & Label
041 9800048
Winters Consumables
041 9839830
Boylan Print*
041 983 9905
All Signs & Labels
087 2396233
Go Mac Signs
087 2416216
JK Office Furniture**
087 2539077
Medikit (PPE)
041 9816652
O'Sullivan Safety (PPE)
041 9831155
Beulah Print
041 9810505
Murduff Enterprise (PPE)
041 9804244
Budget Signs
087 633 9467
Noel Kelly Safety Services
041 984 2668
Sheelin Group Commercial Interiors**
041 9891667
Listoke Distillery
041 2145044
Solv-x
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
