Tag Archives: Subsidy

This morning.

Government buildings.

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath TD announcing plans for ‘enhanced support for businesses’ who qualify for the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) for December 2021 and January 2022.

Via RTÉ News:

The Government has dropped a planned cut to the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) in an effort to aid businesses hit by new Covid-19 restrictions.

At a press conference, the Minister for Finance said an earlier proposal to use the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme to help firms had proved “very complex and very costly”.

Paschal Donohoe said speed was vital to help the hospitality sector.

Instead, he said, he had decided to maintain the enhanced rates of subsidy under the EWSS for a further two months and said it was a more efficient and effective way to support businesses affected in the short-term.

From 1 February 2022, the original two-rate structure of €203 per week and €151.50 per week will apply; for March and April 2022 the flat rate subsidy of €100 per week will apply and the scheme will end on 30 April 2022.

He has also decided to extend the end date of the CRSS to the end of January to help nightclubs and discos which have had to close until 9 January.

Govt announces two-month extension to wage subsidy scheme (RTE)

Julien Behal/RollingNews

Antigen test kits for sale at a Dunnes Stores branch in Dublin this morning

This afternoon.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly earlier told RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne that the government has scrapped a subsidy for antigen tests as the price of kits had fallen. He said kits which had been broadly retailing at €8 per test were now under €5 and within reach and that the ‘market has done it itself’.

Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall responded:

“It beggars belief that Health Minister Stephen Donnelly would announce a U-turn of this scale, as an aside in a media interview, on RTE radio – after senior ministers spent weeks assuring people a subsidy scheme was nearing completion.

“At the start of the month, Nphet changed its advice on antigen tests and advised that anyone engaged in so-called risky activities – which can be summarised as, leaving your home to meet people indoors – should take two antigen tests per week.

“In recognition of the increased financial burden this places on households, particularly low income households, the government opted to provide a subsidy for antigen tests, rather than offer them free of charge.

“Now we learn that because antigen tests are available in certain retailers for approximately €3 or €4 a test, the government is scrapping its proposed subsidy. Apparently, it believes that this is an affordable price for households to absorb.

“This again shows how out of touch this government has become. It has no comprehension of the financial struggles that ordinary people in Ireland are enduring. Antigen tests that are €3 or €4 each may be affordable for government ministers, but they are priced out of reach of many low and middle income workers and families.”

Health Minister says subsidy for antigen tests ‘unnecessary’ after retail price reductions (RTE)

Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews