Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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189. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide a tailored wage subsidy scheme for taxi drivers whose industry is facing long-term reductions in incomes as a result of Covid-19 until the sector fully recovers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14564/20]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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In response to the Covid 19 Public Health emergency, the Government developed a suite of measures designed to support households and businesses that have been negatively impacted by the pandemic and the restrictions that were put in place as a result. These measures include temporary income support for individuals by way of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS). The TWSS is available in respect of employees and the PUP is available to others who have lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic or self-employed persons who cannot maintain their businesses.

I have direct policy responsibility for the TWSS; the PUP is a matter for the Minister for Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands.

The underlying legislation and the TWSS itself were developed having regard to the Government objective of providing assistance to employers and employees, where businesses have been seriously affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions which were introduced as a result. The scheme is available to eligible employers across all sectors, excluding the Public Service and Non-Commercial Semi-State Sector. This includes businesses that have closed due to the Covid-19 restrictions and those that continue to operate and employ their workforce. The taxi sector is no different in this regard.

The Government decided on 5 June 2020 to extend the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) until the end of August. The intention is to continue to monitor the scheme closely. I expect that decisions will be taken at an appropriate time on next steps for the TWSS beyond end-August. In this regard, the Deputy may also wish to note that the Programme for Government contains a commitment that the July Jobs initiative will set out a pathway for the future implementation of the Temporary Wage Subsidy. I acknowledge that certain sectors will face particular challenges into the future as we re-open our economy, and this is one of many factors that will inform decisions.