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)