Is your business eligible?

Applicants should read the eligibility criteria set out below to ensure they meet the criteria and qualify for the Scheme before applying.

Eligibility does not mean an entitlement to funding, which is at the sole discretion of Fáilte Ireland, rather it means eligibility to make an application for grant funding. 

An applicant must meet all the following criteria:

1. Business Type: Satisfy the conditions of one of the below categories of tourism businesses that have been identified for support under the Scheme. It is important that all applicants check the definition and eligibility criteria specified for each category of business before applying.

• Business Category A: Visitor Attractions

• Business Category B: Outdoor Tourism Activity Providers

• Business Category C: Tourism Golf Courses

• Business Category D: Tourism Boat Tour Operators

• Business Category E: Tourism Destination Experience Organisers

2. Downturn in Turnover: Must demonstrate that they have experienced a 50% downturn in eligible tourism turnover when comparing total eligible tourism turnover in 2019 compared with eligible tourism turnover between January 2021 and December 2021 inclusive.

3. Minimum Eligible Tourism Turnover: Have a minimum eligible tourism turnover from the delivery of tourism related business activities within the Republic of Ireland of €50,000 in 2019.

4. Existing Operator: Have been in existence and trading prior to January 1st, 2020.

5. Continuation/Resumption of Trade: Have resumed/or intend to resume trading in 2022 and in line with Government guidance.

6. Tax: Be established and registered for tax, and tax cleared in the Republic of Ireland.

Ineligible applicants:

Applicants who in the view of Fáilte Ireland meet one or more of the below criteria are ineligible to apply for the Scheme:

1. Previous Schemes: Applicants who were successful in either Strategic Tourism Transport Business Continuity Scheme 2022 or Strategic Ireland Based Inbound Agents Scheme 2022 are not eligible to apply for this scheme.

2. Undertakings in Difficulty: Applicants who were considered an “undertaking in difficulty” for the purposes of State aid law as at 31 December 2019, save that aid may be granted to a micro or small enterprise that was already in difficulty as at 31 December 2019 provided that they are not subject to collective insolvency procedure under national law, and that they have not received rescue aid or restructuring aid.

3. Public Bodies: Any business that is owned and operated by, or in receipt of funding from, the following public bodies is ineligible to apply:

   1. Office of Public Works

   2. National Parks and Wildlife Service

   3. Local Authorities/County Councils and their subsidiaries

   4. National Museum

   5. Waterways Ireland

   6. Coillte