Fifth of SMEs tapping Covid payment breaks needed further support 

Report puts spotlight on the way SMEs have fared since the ending of automatic payment breaks

The Central Bank found that new lending to SMEs last year fell by 20% from the previous year.  Picture: Leah Farrell

A fifth of small firms that got a payment break on their loans during the Covid-19 economic crisis have required further support or have fallen into arrears.  

And just under half of the SME payment breaks have returned to full payment on extended terms, and a third on existing terms, according to a new Central Bank report.