Publication
Events Sector Covid Support Scheme: Phase 2 Guidelines
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
Applications for the ESCSS Phase 2 are now closed
Please read the following guidelines carefully before starting your application.
Due to the high volume of applications anticipated, it may not be possible to allocate funding to all eligible applicants. Applications will be considered strictly by order of date and time of receipt by the department.
Following the Events Sector Covid Support Scheme (ESCSS) which closed for applications at the end August 2021, ESCSS Phase 2 will open as a further targeted support for SME’s supplying services in the events sector which have been significantly negatively impacted by restrictions required to combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grants will be paid to successful applicants as a contribution to the businesses costs.
To be eligible for this scheme the business must be ineligible for and not in receipt of support under the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) operated by Revenue.
Under this scheme, payment will be made on a once-off grant basis, as a contribution towards fixed costs to assist businesses that have seen significant reductions in their turnover due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This scheme will be open to those SMEs who provide services to the events industry including services to provide for the production of all forms of live performance, trade shows, including event promoters, event management, conference organisers, security, supply of sound, lighting and stage equipment. Businesses whether sole traders, partnerships or incorporated entities operating within the events sector and who are ineligible for CRSS may apply.
This scheme will have two funding streams:
Business types eligible for funding under streams will include the following:
Stream A: Businesses providing services to the Arts and Culture sector
This stream applies to businesses operating in the arts sector as defined by the Arts Act 2003, that is:
""arts" means any creative or interpretative expression (whether traditional or contemporary) in whatever form, and includes, in particular, visual arts, theatre, literature, music, dance, opera, film, circus and architecture, and includes any medium when used for those purpose".
Examples include:
Stream B: Businesses providing services in the broader Events sector
Examples include:
The features of the scheme are as follows:
Please note: A business can make a maximum of one application under this scheme, either stream A or B, but not under both streams.
The following businesses will not be eligible:
Note: Businesses that have received grants under Phase 2 of the Small Business Assistance Scheme COVID-19 (SBASC) must declare this on their application. Amounts received under SBASC Phase 2 will be deducted from any grant approved under this scheme.
For established businesses with an accounting period or basis period ending on 31 December 2019, the relevant turnover amount will be based on the accounts made up to that date. For established businesses with an accounting period or basis period that does not end on 31 December 2019 (or a business with an accounting period or basis period that ends on that date but it is less than 12 months in length), the calculation of the relevant turnover amount of the business may generally be determined on a pro-rata basis, by apportioning the turnover of the business included in two more sets of accounts that cover the period 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019.
Due to the high volume of applications anticipated, it may not be possible to allocate funding to all eligible applicants. The department will consider applications strictly by order of date and time of receipt.
Support will be offered by way of a single once-off payment to the value of 5% of the VAT-exclusive turnover of the business, up to a maximum award of €25,000.
The Scheme will remain open until 1pm on Thursday 21 October 2021 or until the fund is gone, whichever occurs first.
Please note that it may not be possible to allocate funding to all eligible applicants. Applications will be considered strictly by order of date and time of receipt in the department.
Businesses will be obliged to acknowledge the department's assistance in Annual Financial Statements for the year the grant is paid.
The information provided in this document is intended to give applicants an understanding of the process by which applications for assistance are assessed and approved and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2014, details contained in applications and supporting documents may, on request, be released to third parties. If there is information contained in your application which is sensitive or confidential in nature, please identify it and provide an explanation as to why it should not be disclosed. If a request to release sensitive information under the legislation is received, you will be consulted before a decision is made whether or not to release the information. However, in the absence of the identification of particular information as sensitive, it could be disclosed without any consultation with you.
Details of individual awards may be published on the department's website including the name of the grantee, county in which the beneficiary is located, and grant amount.
For data protection in relation to the department, please see information at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/df3fe-data-protection-policy/
The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media shall not be liable to the applicant or any other party for any loss, damage or costs of any nature resulting directly or indirectly from the application or its subject matter or the department’s rejection of the application for any reason.
The department, its servants or its agents shall not at any time in any circumstances be held responsible or liable for any matter connected with developing, planning, financing, building, operating, managing and/or administering individual projects or any matter connected with the part payment by the department of invoices submitted by grantees.
The department reserves the right to request further information from you in order to verify details in your application. In this regard, the department may undertake spot-checks.
Applications for the ESCSS Phase 2 are now closed
Applicants should ensure that their application form is completed in full and Auditor’s Certificate/Letter signed by an Accountant is submitted with the application. A confirmation email will issue detailing your application and your reference number.
To Note – Auditor’s Certificate/Letter signed by an Accountant must detail the following:
The above details must be noted on the Auditor’s Certificate/Letter signed by an Accountant in order for your application to be considered. All applications must include an Auditor’s Certificate/Letter signed by an Accountant. Accounts will not be accepted.
Applicants may save a draft version of their applications before they submit their final application form – but please note that drafts will not be considered. The onus is on the applicant to ensure their application has been submitted.
Submission of false or misleading information to the department at any stage is treated very seriously. Any business that does not comply with the terms and conditions of the ‘Events Sector Covid Support Scheme’ may have their grant withdrawn or be required to repay all or part of a grant and/or be barred from making applications for a period of time.
An appeal may be made by an applicant if the applicant considers that the process for reviewing their application was not adhered to.
The applicant must be in receipt of a decision email from the ESCSS team in order to make an appeal. An appeal must be made within 5 working days of the date on the decision email.
For all queries in relation to ESCSS please email: ESCSS@tcagsm.gov.ie
The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht Sports and Media (D/TCAGSM) confirms that it will respect the monitoring and reporting obligations laid down in section 4 of the Temporary Framework.
D/TCAGSM is the grant aiding Authority for the Scheme. The legal basis of the Scheme is the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924 as amended by Statutory Instrument No. 403 of 29 September 2020. Grants are provided in accordance with the criteria set out above, subject to EU State Aid law.
Aid being provided towards this Scheme is subject to the provisions of the European Commission’s State Aid Temporary Framework as amended.
The Scheme will be operated under the EU’s COVID-19 Temporary Aid Framework (the ‘Temporary Framework’)*. To fall within the Temporary Framework its provisions must be complied with in all cases and in all respects in so far as they apply to State Aid for a particular applicant. While D/TCAGSM has a primary responsibility to comply with those requirements and other State Aid rules, compliance also depends on the co-operation of applicants, including their adherence to these Guidelines, their candour in making applications to us and, ultimately, their compliance with the terms and conditions attaching to the grant, if successful.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that it is aware of any amendments to the Temporary Framework and applicants are free (and encouraged) to take legal advice as appropriate on how State aid rules apply in their particular situation. Please note that it is a requirement of the Temporary Framework that the aid is granted no later than 31 December 2021 (subject to any extension by the EU Commission). Aid measures developed under the Temporary Framework is subject to the Standstill Obligation in compliance with Article 108(3) TFEU. This means that no aid can be granted or paid out before notification and approval by Commission.
Applicants will be required to provide details of grants already received under other Temporary Frameworks as part of the application process.