Written answers

Tuesday, 14 July 2020

Department of Finance

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Photo of Danny Healy-RaeDanny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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302. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will address a matter relating to the temporary wage subsidy scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15249/20]

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) builds on data returned to Revenue through its real-time PAYE system. The core principles of the scheme are that –

- the business is suffering significant negative economic impact due to the pandemic;

- the employees were on the payroll at 29 February 2020; and,

- the employer had fulfilled its PAYE reporting obligations for February 2020, by 15 March 2020 (which date was recently extended to 31 March 2020 by Revenue concession and subject to conditions).

The TWSS is predicated on the employer wanting to keep the employees on the payroll and to retain them until business picks up. The amount of the subsidy for each employee is calculated based on the average net weekly pay reported for January and February 2020. Furthermore, the TWSS legislation makes no distinction between employees by reference to their age. All eligible employees of qualifying employers are entitled to the wage subsidy. It is not intended that this position will change in any future iteration of the scheme.

Policy responsibility for the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

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