Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020
265. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance if the wage subsidy scheme and other assistance will be given to tour and bus operators (details supplied) to allow them to get back up and running; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21576/20]
View answerOur whole economy and labour market have been rapidly transformed by the unprecedented shock of COVID-19 and nearly all sectors have been negatively impacted either directly or indirectly this year.
As a result, the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) has been deliberately designed as an economy wide measure, open to all sectors as was also the case for preceding Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS).
The primary qualifying criteria for the EWSS is the “turnover test” where the employer must be able to demonstrate that they are operating at no more than 70% from July to December 2020 compared with the same period in 2019.
Such a test can be applied to the whole economy, while at the same time remain focused on employers that are most in need of support.
There is no restriction on the scheme apply to the particular businesses and workers mentioned by the Deputy, and attention is also drawn to the various other Government supports that were announced in the July Stimulus Package such as the Re-Start Grants and Credit Guarantee scheme which may also apply to their sector.
The Government is committed to supporting employers by means of a wage subsidy, and it is recalled that since March 2020 over €2.8 billion of support has been given to over 65,000 employers covering over 660,000 workers. It is currently estimated that the EWSS will utilise a further €2.35 billion in Exchequer resources before its scheduled expiry date at the end of March 2021.
