John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise an important matter, namely, the employment wage subsidy and the Rebuilding Ireland home loan. Last week, in budget 2022, the Government extended the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS, until 30 April 2022. This is an extraordinary measure for extraordinary times. It is further evidence of the Government's support for businesses to help them to get back on their feet as the pandemic recedes. However, I am facing increasing unwillingness on the part of councils, the Department and the Housing Finance Agency to approve Rebuilding Ireland home loans for applicants in the EWSS. One such case, with which I am dealing, concerns a hospitality worker who is now working more hours than he ever did. He has received a promotion and a corresponding increase in wages but is unable to get approval for a Rebuilding Ireland home loan because his company is availing of the EWSS. Another case of mine involves a childcare worker who is in very similar circumstances. While I understand that the EWSS is to support businesses, its extension until April 2022 brings more uncertainty for those very people whom we are trying to support as a State, and whom we are trying to support in becoming the owner of their first home. Therefore, I would appreciate it if the Deputy Leader could arrange a debate on this matter and if we, as a House, wrote to the Department asking it to address this issue as a matter of urgency.