A new Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) was announced by the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe T.D., during his Budget speech on 13 October 2020. The CRSS provided targeted support to businesses forced to close or whose trade had been severely restricted by ongoing public health restrictions. The support took the form of a cash rebate to businesses based on their average VAT-exclusive turnover for 2019 and represented an Advance Credit for Trading Expenses (ACTE) that was deductible for income tax or corporation tax for the period of the restriction or reduction in activity from 13 October 2020.

As part of the measures announced in the Economic Recovery Plan 2021, the Minister for Finance confirmed the CRSS would be extended from 30 June until 31 December 2021 and provide additional support to businesses upon re-opening.

Eligible businesses that resumed trading activities from 2 June 2021 could claim an enhanced restart payment to assist them with the additional costs of reopening. This allowed such businesses to make a single claim for a payment in respect of a 3-week period, with the weekly entitlement calculated at double the normal weekly CRSS rate. The maximum amount that could be claimed in respect of each of the weeks covered by the enhanced restart payment increased from €5,000 to €10,000, with a total maximum payment of €30,000.

Following the announcement by the Government on 29 June 2021 that indoor dining would not proceed as planned, the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe T.D., confirmed that businesses who remained closed or significantly restricted under the public health restrictions may make a claim for additional CRSS support from 5 July 2021 for two weeks.

The Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021, which included the amendments to the CRSS, was signed by the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins on 19 July 2021.

On 21 December 2021, the Government announced changes to the CRSS to support the hospitality and indoor entertainment sectors, such as bars, restaurants and hotels, as well as indoor entertainment venues, such as cinemas and theatres impacted by the public health restrictions that came into effect from 20 December 2021.

On 21, January 2022, the government agreed at a Cabinet meeting that with the removal of public health restrictions requiring businesses to significantly restrict how they operate with effect from 22 January 2022, that businesses will cease to qualify for the CRSS from that date.