€3.4m paid to local businesses

OVER €3.4 million in restart grants has been paid to businesses in Wicklow, according to Government figures.

A figure of €3,491,615 had been paid by the local authority to eligible businesses up to July 24. The data was released by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation in response to a parliamentary question from Sinn Fein TD Louise O’Reilly.

It also shows that €5.57 million has been paid out under the scheme by Wexford County Council, with €4.47 million released by the local authority in Kildare and €1.41 million by Carlow County Council. Dublin

City’s local authority has made payments to businesses so far totalling over €19 million while Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown has allocated €2.9 million under the scheme. South Dublin Council has paid €5.8 million to local businesses.

In response to a separate parliamentary question submitted by Wicklow Sinn Fein Deputy John Brady, the Department said Wicklow County Council had received an initial sum of €4.97 million as of July 24.

The local authority had received a total of 1,187 applications from businesses seeking Restart Grant funding up to July 24. Of these, 918 businesses had received funding with a further 27 business approved for the scheme and yet to receive payment.

The Restart Grant Scheme was introduced to provide support to small and micro businesses around Ireland to help with the costs of reopening and re-hiring workers after Covid-19 closures. It provides direct grant aid to businesses with up to 250 employees to help them with the costs associated with reopening and re-employing workers following Covid-19 closures. The maximum grant available under the enhanced scheme is €25,000 and the minimum payment is €4,000.