Ó An Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán
Foilsithe
An t-eolas is déanaí
Teanga: Níl leagan Gaeilge den mhír seo ar fáil.
This Scheme is now CLOSED for Applications. Please Note: We continue to assess submitted applications. If you have submitted an ESCSS application you will hear from us in due course via the email address you entered on your application form.
Please read the following guidelines carefully before starting your application.
Please note that 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.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an unprecedented impact on those in the events sector. The new Events Sector Covid Support Scheme (ESCSS) is a once-off scheme with a funding allocation of €11.5 million to support the events sector. This new scheme is a targeted support for SME’s operating in the events sector and, which have been significantly negatively impacted by restrictions introduced by the government under public health regulations to combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants will be paid to successful applicants as a contribution to the businesses costs. Should the scheme be oversubscribed, the Minister may, subject to the availability of funding at the time, allocate additional funding to the scheme and any eligible applicants who were not funded may be offered funding if the scheme is extended without the requirement to reapply.
To be eligible for this scheme the business must have been ineligible for 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.
The following businesses will not be eligible:
Note: 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 declare this on their application. Amounts received under these schemes (SBASC Phase One and MEBAS) will be deducted from any grant approved under this scheme.
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:
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:
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.
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.
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. 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 7.5% of the VAT-exclusive turnover of the business, up to a maximum award of €50,000.
The Scheme will remain open until 1pm on Wednesday 31 August 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.
This Scheme is now CLOSED for applications.
Applications may be made using the link to the online application system on the department’s ESCSS webpage which will be made available at 1pm on 4 August 2021.
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;
• Vat-Exclusive Turnover for 2019. While your business may have turnover relating to other sectors, only turnover in relation to activity within the events sector should be considered relevant turnover for this scheme.
• 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.
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