To ask the Minister of Finance to detail the reasons for excluding car garages from the most recent COVID-19 support grants, while including car showrooms.

Garages are not eligible for support under the Localised Restrictions Support Scheme (LRSS) because a business providing motor vehicle repair and MOT Services is classed as essential under the Health Protection Regulations and has therefore been permitted to remain open during the period of the restrictions. Car showrooms are classed as non-essential retail and were required to close, and are therefore eligible for payment under the LRSS.

If a garage qualified for a Small Business Support Grant last year, and has not been able to avail of support through any other Executive Covid-19 support scheme, it will qualify for payment under the Small Business Top Up grant scheme which I announced on 15 March 2021.