Is your business eligible?

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.

A Qualifying 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: Coach Tourism Operators, Tourism Chauffeur, Limousine Services, Escorted Private Tours and Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour Operators
• Business Category B: Tourism Vehicle Rental Sector 
• Business Category C: Tourism Aviation & Rail Tour Operators 

2. Downturn in Eligible Tourism Turnover Due to COVID-19:

Eligible applicants must demonstrate that they have experienced a 50% downturn in eligible tourism turnover when comparing total average eligible monthly tourism turnover in 2019 compared with average eligible monthly tourism turnover between January 2021 and December 2021 inclusive.

3. Minimum Eligible Tourism Turnover:

Had a minimum eligible tourism turnover from the delivery of tourism related business activities within the Republic of Ireland of €50,000 in 2019.  In the case of Business Category A: Coach Tourism Operators, Tourism Chauffeur, Limousine Services and Escorted Private Tours, applicants must in addition submit evidence of 10% of eligible tourism turnover (not required for Hop-On and Hop-Off bus tour operators). 

Please note: Successful applicants from the Strategic Tourism Transport Business Continuity Scheme (STTBCS) 2021 are deemed to have already demonstrated their eligibility with regard to licence and tourism turnover evidence (no further information in relation to these points are required in that regard for an application for this Scheme). 

4. Existing Operator:

Have been in existence and trading prior to January 1st, 2020.

5. Continuation/Resumption of Trade:

Intend to continue trading in 2022 or when it is safe to do so in line with Government guidance.

6. Tax:

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

Ineligible Applicants – Undertakings in Difficulty

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 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 are ineligible to apply for the Scheme.   

Public Ownership: Fáilte Ireland reserve the right to refuse grant funding under this Scheme if it determines that a tourism business is supported by State funding. 

Note: Commercial semi-state bodies or the commercial subsidiary of a semi-state body or any applicant business that operates independently on a ‘risk and reward’ basis, and not on behalf of any public entity are eligible under this Scheme, regardless of whether or not the applicant uses public property to operate.