Written answers

Thursday, 14 January 2021

Department of Finance

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Photo of Jennifer WhitmoreJennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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49. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of early years education services in Ireland currently availing of the employment wage subsidy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2075/21]

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Section 28B of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 provides for the operation of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme, which is an economy-wide enterprise support for eligible businesses in respect of eligible employees.  It provides a flat-rate subsidy to qualifying employers based on the numbers of paid and eligible employees on the employer’s payroll and also provides for the charging of a reduced rate of employer PRSI of 0.5% on wages paid which are eligible for the subsidy payment.

Eligibility for the scheme by an employer is based on significant economic disruption to their business as a result of COVID-19 including a decline of at least 30% of turnover or customer orders in the second half  of 2020 for pay dates in 2020, and the first half of 2021 for pay dates in 2021. 

Childcare businesses registered in accordance with Section 58C of the Childcare Act 1991 as Prescribed Early Year Service providers are eligible for the EWSS.   I am advised by Revenue that 2,525 registered childcare service providers are registered for the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme. Based on the information currently available, it is not possible to segregate this between those operating in the Early Learning and Care sector (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) sectors.

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