My colleague, the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform has confirmed that a change to the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme will be made to accommodate the salaries of those who have returned to work after a period of maternity leave and who may not have been on the payroll of their employer on 29 February, or been paid in either January or February 2020; which are requirements for qualification for the scheme.
My Department continues to provide income support for women who have lost their employment as a consequence of the Pandemic and are unable to return to work at the end of their maternity leave, in the form of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment if they are not receiving any payment from their employer.
I trust that this clarifies the matter.