Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would like to speak on an announcement in the budget as well and I welcome the significant €898 million funding towards the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in particular. There is a €91 million increase in capital funding in that Department, which represents a 21% increase. I want to focus on decisions that were made on the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS, the extension of that until April and the significance of that to businesses across the country. We expect that almost all public restrictions will be eased in the coming weeks but that does not mean businesses are back to normal. The extension that is being announced today up until 30 April will be beneficial to businesses that need time to get back to where they were pre-Covid. That is significant, along with the waiver of rates for quarter four, but it is also important that we support councils in the loss of those rates up until the end of quarter four. The Government has proven that it is here to support businesses, including employees and employers. I mention the change in the tax bands of €1,500 between the lower and higher rates of tax. The increase in the employee tax credit of €50 is significant, as is the announcement on remote working. People who are working from home are being supported to claim back 30% of their electricity, broadband and heating costs. That is a hugely significant change and it acknowledges the number of people who are working from home. It will benefit approximately 500,000 people. That is hugely significant and I encourage people to apply for that.