The Government has announced packages of assistance to sectors of industry and commerce that have been most badly affected by Covid-19.

Manufacturing and international services

A €180m Sustaining Enterprise Fund for firms with 10 or more employees in the manufacturing and international services sectors to be operated by Enterprise Ireland, providing advances of up to €800,000 which are only repayable when a business returns to good financial health.

Food and drink industries

Bord Bia has introduced the COVID Response Marketing Support Package, a marketing grant scheme open to food, drink and horticulture (edible and amenity) producers who are client companies of Bord Bia, with a turnover between €100,000 and €25 million in 2019. The closing date for receipt of applications was Thursday, 16 April 2020.

Restaurants and cafes will not have to apply for planning permission to operate as take-away services during the emergency period. The emergency period set out in legislation is 13 March 2020 to 31 May 2020. This period may be extended.

The Digital School of Food is an e- learning hub from the Local Enterprise Office to help food manufacturing businesses to develop and grow their Irish businesses.

Childcare providers

The Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) has set out emergency measures to support childcare providers while childcare facilities are closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can read more in our document on Childcare and COVID-19.

Construction industry

The Construction Federation Industry has developed a Back to Work Resource Pack (pdf) to help prepare your business for getting back to work after the COVID-19 emergency measures are relaxed. You can get more information from cif.ie. You should keep up to date with announcements from the Health Service Executive.

Charity, social enterprise and voluntary organisations

A €5 million Innovate Together Fund will support responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund offers grants and other supports to eligible projects relating to community outreach for vulnerable groups while social distancing, health, education, reskilling the workforce and the economy can apply. Applications open on 13 May until 27 May 2020. You can get more information on socialinnovation.ie.