Dheimhnigh mé inniú, mar Aire Stáit don Ghaeltacht, don Ghaeilge agus do na hOileáin, go mbeidh rochtain ag cliantchomhlachtaí Údarás na Gaeltachta ar réimse iomlán tacaíochtaí faoin gCiste Cothaithe Fiontair, agus €5m ar fáil mar thús.
Tagann sé seo sna sála ar mhaoiniú breise €600,000 a fógraíodh le gairid a fuair mé d’Údarás na Gaeltachta chun an Scéime Trádála Ar Líne a fheidhmiú sa Ghaeltacht agus mar thoradh ar an gcomhoibriú leanúnach idir an Roinn Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta agus Údaras na Gaeltachta agus na ranna agus áisíneachtaí ábhartha eile Stáit chun tacaíochtaí praiticiúla a chur ar fáil do ghnóthaí atá buailte de bharr Covid-9.
Cinntíonn an deimhniú seo inniu go mbeidh rochtain ag fiontair Ghaeltachta ar an gCiste €180m Cothaithe Fiontair, atá á riar ag na háisíneachtaí Stáit le cúramaí fiontraíochta, faoi mar a aontaíodh ag an Roinn Fiontair, Gnó agus Nuálaíochta leis an Coimisiún Eorpacha faoin gcreat sealadach cúnaimh Stáit.
Tá áthas orm a dheimhniú gur féidir le cliantchomhlachtaí de chuid Údarás na Gaeltachta rochtain a fháil ar an réimse iomlán tacaíochtaí faoin gCiste Cothaithe Fiontair tríd an Údarás, ag feidhmiú i gcomhar le Fiontraíocht Éireann atá á riaradh go náisiúnta. Táthar ag súil go mbeidh an €5m seo mar thús chun freastal ar an éileamh reatha ó chliantchomhlachtaí an Údaráis agus déanfar breithniú air de mar leanann sé ar aghaidh.
Ba cheart do chliantchomhlachtaí Údarás na Gaeltachta teagmháil a dhéanamh lena gComhairleoir Forbartha san Údarás chun tús a chur leis an bpróiseas iarratais.
Chomh maith leis sin, mhol mé do ghnólachtaí beaga ar fud na Gaeltachta iarratas a dhéanamh ar an Deontas Atosaithe faoina bhfuil €250m curtha ar fáil ag an Rialtas tríd na hÚdaráis Áitiúla. Cuidíonn an tacaíocht deontais go díreach do ghnólachtaí beaga leis na costais a bhaineann le hathoscailt agus le hathfhostú tar éis a bheith dúnta de bharr Covid-19. Is féidir an deontas seo a úsáid le costais sheasta a ghlanadh, m.sh. fóntais, árachas nó athstocáil agus le bearta sábháilteachta foirne agus custaiméirí a chur i bhfeidhm. Is féidir iarratas a dhéanamh ar an Deontas Atosaithe ar líne go díreach tríd na húdaráis áitiúla.
Today I confirmed, as Minister for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands, that client companies of Údarás na Gaeltachta will be able to access the full range of supports under the Sustaining Enterprise Fund, with an initial amount of €5m being made available.
This is in addition to the recently announced extra funding of €600,000 which I secured for Údarás na Gaeltachta to administer the Trading Online Voucher Scheme in the Gaeltacht and is a result of the ongoing collaboration between the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltachta and Údaras na Gaeltachta and other departments and State agencies to provide practical supports to businesses impacted as result of Covid-19.
Today’s confirmation ensures that Gaeltacht enterprises will have access to the €180 million Sustaining Enterprise Fund, which is administered through the State’s development agencies following successful negotiations by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation with the European Commission under the temporary state aid framework.
I am pleased to confirm that client companies of Údarás na Gaeltachta will be able to access the full range of supports of the Sustaining Enterprise Fund through Údarás na Gaeltachta, working in close co-operation with Enterprise Ireland who are administering the fund nationally. It is anticipated that an initial sum of €5 million will cover the present demand from Údarás clients and this will be reviewed as the scheme progresses.
Údarás na Gaeltachta client companies should contact their Development Advisor in Údarás na Gaeltachta to initiate the application process.
I also strongly encourage eligible micro and small businesses in the Gaeltacht regions to apply for the Government’s €250m Restart Grant Fund providing direct grant aid to micro and small businesses through the local authorities. The support in the form of direct grant aid is aimed at helping micro and small businesses with the costs associated with reopening and re-employing workers following COVID-19 closures. The grant can be used to defray ongoing fixed costs, eg utilities, insurance or for replenishing stock and for measures needed to ensure employee and customer safety. Applications for the Restart Grant can be made online directly to local authorities.
Seán Kyne 