Kilkenny TD wants fair play for local businesses without premises

A Kilkenny TD has called on the Government to include all industries in a Covid-19 support scheme, even if they don’t have fixed premises.

Deputy Kathleen Funchion wants the Government to expand the Covid Restriction Support Scheme (CRSS) scheme to include suppliers and other excluded businesses in county Kilkenny.

The Sinn Féin frontbencher is bringing an amendment to a Government motion which would ensure businesses that are not necessarily public facing – such as suppliers, event management companies, taxi drivers, the outdoor activity industry – as well as businesses without fixed premises are no longer excluded.

The Kilkenny TD said:  “This amendment calls on the government to change the qualifying criteria for CRSS, which excludes many local businesses in Kilkenny that have been directly impacted by Level 5 restrictions.

“To qualify for the scheme, a business must have a fixed premises and be able to demonstrate that customers are no longer able to access the premises as a result of Covid-19 restrictions.

“As a result, these rigid and narrow criteria lock outs numerous hard-pressed businesses. Expanding this scheme is crucial to avoid insolvencies and stave off the threat of high employment,” Deputy Funchion added.