Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Monday, 16 November 2020

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach

Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Doherty made a point about the expansion of the scheme to parts of our economy that are significantly but indirectly affected by closed businesses. If he looks at the level of economic support we have provided in the round, he will see that, in terms of the scale of support and the number of policy measures, it is an overall package that compares strongly with what is available in other jurisdictions. The Deputy should not view the CRSS in isolation from the other measures we have brought in. Grants have been available since the scheme was launched. The EWSS will continue to operate. We are making the greatest amount of money that we can available to the most affected businesses. That means there are businesses which may want to be on the scheme but cannot be included. However, I repeat that this would mean the scheme becoming economy-wide, which we would not be able to fund at the rates included in the CRSS. The level of support available in the CRSS is such that we could mot afford it if we were to make it economy-wide.

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