To date 18,600 businesses have registered 21,400 premises for the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) which is administered by Revenue. 50,800 claims for CRSS payments of €221.5 million have been made based on the latest statistics released on 21 January. The Government originally estimated that the CRSS would cost €40 million for every week of nationwide Level 3 restrictions. Chartered Accountants Ireland, under the auspices of the CCAB-I, wrote to Minister Donohoe calling for the CRSS to be available to more businesses suffering financial difficulties due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Starting from 17 November 2020, an eligible business, if registered with Revenue for CRSS and who carries on a business activity from a premises located in a region subject to COVID-19 related restrictions, can make a claim for payment under the CRSS. Currently the support is only available to a business required to prohibit or considerably restrict customers from accessing their business premises as a result of the restrictions. The Preliminary COVID-19 Support Scheme Statistics provide full details of the cost and reach of the CRSS to 21 January.