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EU PolicyWatch

Database of national-level policy measures

Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.

Factsheet for measure IE-2022-28/2899 – measures in Ireland

New COVID-19 loan scheme for farming, fishing and food sectors launched

Country Ireland , applies nationwide
Time period Temporary, 04 July 2022 – 31 December 2022
Context COVID-19, European Semester
Type Other initiatives or policies
Category Supporting businesses to stay afloat
– Access to finance
Author Roisin Farelly (IRN Publishing) and Eurofound
Measure added 15 September 2022 (updated 07 July 2023)

Background information

In July 2022 the Government launched a new loan scheme for SME businesses in certain sectors. Under the COVID-19 Loan Scheme, businesses will get access to low-cost finance. The Government said the new loan scheme is to help companies that are still getting back on their feet after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 Loan Scheme is supported by a guarantee through the European Guarantee Fund (EGF), which is being implemented by the European Investment Fund (EIF) on behalf of the European Commission.

Content of measure

The COVID-19 Loan Scheme is available to eligible SMEs, including those in the farming, fishing and food sectors, to help with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The loans will be between €25,000 to €1.5 million and be available for terms of 1 to 6 years.

Loans can be used for:

  • liquidity/working capital
  • investment
  • refinancing

To be eligible for the loan scheme, the business must have experienced an adverse impact of a minimum 15% in turnover or profit due to the impact of COVID-19.

Interest rates on loans provided under the Scheme will be lower than is otherwise typically available on similar lending in the market and will vary according to the lender.

The scheme will remain open to new applications until the end of 2022.

Use of measure

No information yet.

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Does not apply to workers Sector specific set of companies
SMEs
Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
National government
European Funds
National funds
National Recovery and Resilience Facility

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

Trade unions Employers' organisations
Role No involvement No involvement
Form Not applicable Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

  • No involvement
  • Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

No involvement.

Views and reactions

N/A

Sectors and occupations

    • Economic area Sector (NACE level 2)
      A - Agriculture, Forestry And Fishing A1 Crop and animal production, hunting and related service activities
      A2 Forestry and logging
      A3 Fishing and aquaculture
      I - Accommodation And Food Service Activities I56 Food and beverage service activities

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2022), New COVID-19 loan scheme for farming, fishing and food sectors launched, measure IE-2022-28/2899 (measures in Ireland), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/IE-2022-28_2899.html

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Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.