Further information on the Events Sector Covid Support Scheme

This Scheme is now CLOSED for applications.

The Events Sector Covid Support Scheme opened for applications from 4 - 31 August 2021. This date may be extended if funding remains available for the scheme. A business may make one application only under this scheme.

You are eligible for the scheme if:

• Your business operates in the events sector and had turnover of €150,000 or above for 2019. While your business may have turnover relating to other sectors, only turnover in relation to activity within the events sector will be considered relevant turnover for this scheme.
• Your business must be able to demonstrate that the average monthly turnover was no more than 25% of their average monthly turnover for 2019 for any consecutive six months during the period 12 March - 2020 – 31 March 2021. This must be confirmed on the Auditor’s Certificate/Letter signed by an Accountant

This scheme will have two funding streams:

• Stream A: Businesses providing services to the Arts and Culture sector
• Stream B: Businesses providing services in the broader Events sector

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:

• lighting/sound equipment services
• stage equipment services
• fencing equipment services
• security services
• health and safety services
• crowd management/stewarding services
• hygiene/cleaning services
• circus services
• catering for live events
• event management services
• event marketing and promotion services

Stream B: Businesses providing services in the broader Events sector

Examples include:

• conferencing services
• exhibition and trade show services
• catering for live events
• lighting/sound equipment services
• stage equipment services
• fencing equipment services
• security services
• health and safety services
• crowd management/stewarding services
• hygiene/cleaning services
• event management services
• event marketing and promotion services

This scheme will operate with a limited fund of €11.5 million – eligibility does not guarantee the offer of a grant. Applications will be considered strictly by order of date and time of receipt by the department.

An email will issue, advising you of the outcome of your application. This email will detail the expected time it will take for payment to issue.

Support will be offered by way of a single once-off payment to the value of 7.5% of the VAT-exclusive turnover of the business in 2019, up to a maximum award of €50,000.

The grant will be paid to the business’ bank account by EFT, using the details submitted on the application form.

The payment is made as a contribution to the overheads of businesses that have been significantly negatively affected by COVID-19.

Please read the ESCSS guidelines before starting your application.

The application form for this scheme will be made available on the department’s website at 1pm on 4 August 2021.

Click on the “Start New Application” button and complete the form.

This form will require applicants to self-declare that they are ineligible for and have not been in receipt of the CRSS. Businesses will be also asked to confirm that they are not registered charities or a Not for Profit Organisations (NFP).

Businesses that have received grants under Phase 1 of the Small Business Assistance Scheme COVID-19 (SBASC) or the Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme (MEBAS) must also note this on their application. Amounts received under these schemes (Phase 1 SBASC and MEBAS) will be deducted from any grant approved under this scheme.

Applicants will be required to include an Auditor’s Certificate/Letter signed by an Accountant detailing:

• Vat-Exclusive Turnover for 2019
• indicate which Stream (A or B) the application is for
• Confirmation that your average monthly turnover was no more than 25% of their average monthly turnover for 2019 for any consecutive six months during the period 12 March - 2020 – 31 March 2021.
• Confirmation that the company operates in the Arts and Culture or broader events sector and that the declared turnover relates only to activity within the events sector.

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.

• Applications will be accepted for companies with VAT-exclusive turnover of €150,000 and above for 2019. While your business may have turnover relating to other sectors, only turnover in relation to activity within the events sector will be considered relevant turnover for this scheme. This must be verified using an Auditor’s Certificate/Letter signed by an Accountant
• The Auditor’s Certificate/Letter signed by an Accountant must confirm which stream the application is for and that the company operates in the arts and culture or broader events sector.
• The business must be able to demonstrate that the average monthly turnover was no more than 25% of their average monthly turnover for 2019 for any consecutive six months during the period 12 March - 2020 – 31 March 2021. This must be confirmed on the Auditor’s Certificate/Letter signed by an Accountant
• support will be offered by way of a single once-off payment to the value of 7.5% of the VAT-exclusive turnover of the business, up to a maximum award of €50,000 Turnover eligible for this scheme can only be generated by activities in the State
• grants received under Phase One of the Small Business Assistance Support Scheme for Covid (SBASC) and the Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme (MEBAS) will be deducted from any ESCSS award
• businesses must intend to resume trading in full once government restrictions are eased and will be required to declare this when applying
• the business must be located in the State and the address of the business for tax purposes must be located wholly within a geographical region for which COVID-19 restrictions are in operation
• profits of the trade or trading activities of the business must be chargeable to tax under Case I or II of Schedule D
• payments under the scheme are taxable and a tax liability may arise when the business makes its annual tax returns
• businesses must have a current eTax Clearance Certificate from the Revenue Commissioners
• the scheme operates on a self-assessment basis. Businesses are required to retain evidence and documentation that supports the basis for making a claim under this scheme as this may be requested by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under future eligibility checks
• names, grant amount and county in which the beneficiary is located of successful grantees may be published on the department’s website
• the department reserves the right to audit a randomly selected sample of eligible applicants' accounts after the scheme has closed

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 scheme operates on a self-assessment basis. Businesses are required to retain evidence and documentation which supports the basis for making a claim under the scheme as this may be requested by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under future eligibility checks.

The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media will arrange to carry out spot-checks to ensure compliance with the qualifying criteria.

Details of individual awards may be published on the department’s website, including:

• the name of the grantee
• the county in which the beneficiary is located
• the grant amount

The closing date for receipt of applications is 1pm on 31 August 2021. The scheme may close earlier if funding is gone.

This scheme will operate with a limited fund of €11.5 million. 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.

A typed signature should be provided where indicated on the last page of the application form.

An appeal may be made by a business if the applicant considers that the process for reviewing their application was not adhered to.

The business 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.

See further information on the ESCSS appeals process.

You can apply for and be a recipient of both the Live Performance Support Scheme (LPSS) 2021 and ESCSS.

If you have received funding under MEBAS, you can still make an application for ESCSS. However, businesses that have received grants under Phase 1 of the Small Business Assistance Scheme COVID-19 (SBASC) or the Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme (MEBAS) will be asked to note this on their application.

Amounts received under these schemes (Phase 1 SBASC or MEBAS) will be deducted from any grant approved under this scheme.

All queries can be emailed to ESCSS@tcagsm.gov.ie

If you have an application number, please remember to include this in all correspondence. Please also note that this page may be updated from time to time.

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