• a €200m Package for Enterprise Supports including a Rescue and Restructuring Scheme available through Enterprise Ireland for viable but vulnerable firms that need to restructure or transform their businesses. Details of these supports are being finalised.
  • a €200m Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) Working Capital Scheme for eligible businesses impacted by COVID-19. Further information can be found at https://sbci.gov.ie/
  • a Short Time Work Support is available from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and is an income support payment for employees who have been temporarily placed on a shorter working week and is intended to help employers during periods of temporary difficulty. Further details at www.gov.ie/stws
  • “Finance in focus” grant of up to €7,200 available to Enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta clients to support financial planning.
  • Other Enterprise Ireland supports including; Strategic Consultancy Grant for SME’s to assist in the development of a strategic response plan by the company; Act On initiative, providing access to two days consultancy engagement at no extra cost to access financial management, strategic sourcing and transport and logistics advice; Key Manager support to provide partial funding towards the recruiting of a full or part-time manager with critical skills for future growth; Agile Innovation Fund and Operational Excellence Offer; Be Prepared grant for contingency planning. Visit www.enterprise-ireland.com/businessresponse for further details on the above supports.
  • Vouchers for business continuity preparedness, innovation and productivity will be available through Local Enterprise Offices in every local authority area.
  • The Credit Guarantee Scheme is a government supported product from the banks for small and medium businesses who have difficulty borrowing from their bank. Businesses can apply for loans of up to €1 million at AIB, Bank of Ireland or Ulster Bank. Loans can be for terms of up to 7 years. The scheme provides an 80% guarantee to participating banks which are AIB, Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank. 
  • Additional financial supports are available locally through the 31 Local Enterprise Offices and Microfinance Ireland. The maximum loan available from Microfinance Ireland will be increased from €25,000 to €50,000 as an immediate measure to specifically deal with exceptional circumstances that micro-enterprises are facing. 
  • In light of Covid-19, Revenue have announced a number of measures specifically aimed at SME’s and sub-contractors. Additional advice and guidance can be found here.

For further information or for any queries you have on the supports available, please contact the new Business Response Unit at clientresponse@enterprise-ireland.com.