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

I will answer each question in turn. It is my intention to bring an update on the stability programme to the Cabinet and the House in the next two weeks. It merits discussion in the Dáil Chamber and the Government can give an indication as to where we are from an Exchequer and employment point of view.

Deputy Michael McGrath asked about expenditure and that could amount to as much as €8 billion. The reason I use that figure is because there are some trade-offs within the figures that we have announced. In particular, while we have made a significant additional amount of funding available to the Department of Health, it will be up to the Department to decide how much of that needs to be drawn down and where it needs to be deployed, and much of that will depend on the spread of the disease throughout the country in the coming days, weeks and months. In the update on the stability programme, I aim to give the best possible indication of where we believe expenditure will be at the end of the year. I will also note, in particular, the trade-offs between the pandemic unemployment benefit, the higher level of sickness benefit that was announced and the wage subsidy scheme which means that we can have individuals moving across some of those payments. That may mean that the overall cost to the Exchequer is not as simple as adding two different figures that were announced at different points.

To date, no proposals for solvency legislation have been put to me by other Departments but that could change. The Government has to consider what additional measures will be needed to allow our economy to build itself again when we move past this phase of the public health crisis.

I have spoken to the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, about those over the age of 66. I have been informed that the reason payments are not available to people over the age of 66 is because that is the point at which jobseeker's payments come to an end. The pandemic payment is anchored to jobseeker's payments. I am informed that there are other State payments available to those over the age of 66 and, if a person of that age was to lose his or her job, there may well be an opportunity for the value of those payments to be increased. Those who find themselves in a position of hardship should contact their local social welfare office and ask for a reassessment to be made because they may be entitled to more than they are being paid at the moment.

I will turn to the two questions asked by Deputy Troy. It is a requirement of the wage subsidy scheme that those companies accessing the payment have been compliant with their tax requirements. That is a fair expectation. As with all these issues, I would encourage companies to engage directly with the Revenue Commissioners on these matters because the Revenue Commissioners understand that this scheme is in place for particular reasons and it would not be happening without them.

I may have an opportunity to deal with the business interruption issue when responding to other Deputies.

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