Written answers

Wednesday, 29 July 2020

Department of Finance

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Photo of Richard Boyd BarrettRichard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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132. To ask the Minister for Finance the income supports he plans to put in place for taxi drivers and arts, music, event and live entertainment workers in the July stimulus in view of the fact that these categories of workers will not see their industry return to pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels of activity in the medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19547/20]

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As the public health restrictions are eased, the challenge for the economy and enterprises is evolving. As recently announced in the July Jobs Initiative, the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) will be in place from 31 July 2020 until 31 March 2021. The TWSS and the EWSS will run in parallel from 31 July until the TWSS ceases at the end of August. From 31 July, any employers who have not previously availed of the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme are only eligible to apply for the EWSS. 

The EWSS will be an economy-wide scheme that will focus primarily on business eligibility, delivering a per-head subsidy on a flat rate basis. This adaptation from the TWSS will allow employers to rely on the continuation of support over a longer period of 8 months while also ensuring such support is sustainable and affordable.  To the extent that individuals in the categories and sectors mentioned by the Deputy are employees, their employers may be in a position to benefit from support under the EWSS. 

Details about the EWSS including how it will operate, how to apply and employer eligibility will be published shortly.

In relation to other direct support measures, a recent publication by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation outlines the key financial supports and resources that are being made available to help all businesses and sectors impacted by Covid-19. This publication is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c644c0-supports-for-businesses-impacted-by-covid-19/  .

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