Travel agencies throughout the State have effectively been living under level 5 restrictions since March. They have no destinations to sell and nobody to sell them to. They are in dire straits. The Tánaiste recently said on the radio that travel agencies would qualify for the Covid restrictions support scheme. Two days later, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, said they would not be included. There is confusion out there. Can the Tánaiste confirm whether the Government will include travel agencies in the Covid restrictions support scheme, given their dire financial predicament?

The Tánaiste made reference to the Covid restrictions support scheme earlier. I know he was hoping for a chance to expand on the issue. The scheme is to run from 13 October. The details are to be included in the finance Bill which is to be published shortly. However, thousands of businesses are locked out from today. When will they be able to apply for the scheme? Can they apply from today? When will they receive a cash payment? As the Tánaiste knows, they have bills which must be paid immediately.

I thank the Deputies. Travel agents are required to close under level 4 or level 5 restrictions, so they were covered by the Covid restrictions support scheme from midnight last night. Whether they are covered under level 3 is a matter for debate, but that no longer matters as we are now under level 5. As such, travel agents are covered. They will now receive the weekly Covid restrictions support scheme payment because they were required to close their premises under level 4 and level 5 restrictions.

I have been informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the scheme is to open for applications this week. However, the first cash payments will not be received until the middle of November. They will be paid weekly from then on, but some administrative work is required from the Revenue Commissioners first. However, the payments will be backdated.