Speaking in recent days, local Sinn Féin elected representative, Deputy Sorca Clarke, has said that the Government and local authorities should be seeking out small businesses in Westmeath and encouraging them to apply to the Small Business Assistance Scheme for Covid (SBASC ) before it closes next month as relevant data provided revealed that only 60 grant submissions have been applied for in the county to date.
“The Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC ) was established to provided much needed funding to many businesses who had been excluded from other Government schemes such as the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS ), the Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme (MEBAS ), the Fáilte Ireland Business Continuity grant, and other direct sectoral grant schemes.
“The SBASC scheme provided grants of €4,000 to businesses working from non-rateable premises and €1,000 to businesses with a turnover between €20,000 and €49,999. While it was a small scheme, it was much needed and appreciated by small businesses.
“However, data provided to Sinn Féin by the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment has revealed that only 3,079 grants applications have been made to date across the whole of the state. Indeed, to date, just over €12 million in grants have been applied for despite the scheme being due to close in less than a month.
“The situation is mirrored in Westmeath where only 60 businesses have applied for grants.
“The Department have relayed that not all applications will be approved, so in all likelihood the number of applications which turn into approved grants in Westmeath will be less than 60, unless the Government and local authorities step in now.
“With such a low level of applications it is clear that the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, the Government, and Local Authorities, needs to seek out and encourage applications from small businesses for the SBASC scheme.
“Given the closing date for the scheme is July 21, the Government must work to ensure as many small local businesses as possible know about the scheme and submit grant applications.
“If there are any small businesses in Westmeath who are looking for additional details about the SBASC scheme, please do not hesitate to get in touch and both I and my offices will do all we can to help,” Deputy Clarke stated.
