Seán Sherlock
Question:249. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Finance the number of employers on the employment wage subsidy scheme by county. [24145/20]
View answerTuesday, 15 September 2020
Questions (249, 265)
Willie O'Dea
Question:265. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons presently in receipt of EWSS; if the Government is prepared to re-examine the conditions for eligibility to EWSS in view of the many critical comments regarding the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23723/20]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 249 and 265 together.
Revenue published detailed statistical updates on the TWSS on a weekly basis for the duration of the scheme in order to provide as timely and transparent data on the utilisation and impact of the TWSS as possible. These statistics are available at: https://www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/number-of-taxpayers-and-returns/covid-19-wage-subsidy-scheme-statistics.aspx.
The Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) was legislated for in the recently enacted Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Act 2020, replacing the TWSS from 1 September 2020 until March 2021. It provides a flat-rate subsidy to qualifying employers, based on the number of qualifying employees on the payroll. 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.
As of 10 September, over 32,200 employers have registered for the Scheme which is a healthy level of applications and already nearly half of all those who availed of the TWSS over the duration of that scheme. As employers continue to register for the EWSS and file payroll with Revenue for the relevant employees, the numbers of employees that will be supported by the scheme will be made available and the implications of the movement from TWSS to EWSS will be assessed. Revenue has confirmed that it has started to include information on the EWSS in their statistics, also located at the above link. The EWSS detail in the statistics, including the numbers of employees being supported, will be expanded in the coming weeks as the scheme progresses.
In the meantime, I can confirm that it is expected that the EWSS will support around 350,000 jobs into the beginning of 2021. On this basis, it is estimated that the EWSS will cost €2.25 billion (€1.35 billion in 2020 inclusive of seasonal workers and €0.9 billion in 2021).
Many of the strictest public health restrictions on the economy have been eased so it is appropriate that the level of State subsidy be moderated, while also recognising that economic outputs are unlikely to return to normal for many businesses for much of the rest of 2020 because of the continued need to observe some requirements such as social distancing. The Government is therefore 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 via the TWSS. A further €2.25 billion has been allocated to the EWSS until the end of March 2021 and the Deputies’ attention is also drawn to the comprehensive package of business and employer supports that have been made available as part of the July Stimulus Plan, such as the Re-Start Grants and Credit Guarantee scheme.
I can confirm to the Deputy that the operation of the EWSS and its effectiveness will be kept under close review over the coming months. In fact, the relevant legislation obliges me to monitor and superintend the administration of the scheme and empowers me to make certain adjustments where I determine that these are necessary.