Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020

Wednesday, 3 June 2020

Ceisteanna (41, 44, 53, 61, 70)

Joan Collins

Ceist:

41. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Finance if a bakery (details supplied) in Dublin 8 can access supports and grants and so on to cover wages and costs. [8857/20]

Emer Higgins

Ceist:

44. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties faced by businesses when an employee receiving the pandemic unemployment payment leaves their job due to the fact their replacement will not be eligible for the Covid-19 wage subsidy scheme; if he will amend the scheme in order that businesses are entitled to the wage subsidy scheme for the number of employees working in the organisation in February 2020 rather than for specific employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9087/20]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

53. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Finance the options for microbusinesses which closed their premises temporarily due to Covid-19 lockdown measures which are being refused the temporary wage subsidy scheme upon reopening due to having to hire new part-time staff to restart their business in view of the fact previously employed part-time staff have chosen not to return to their former roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8413/20]

Neasa Hourigan

Ceist:

61. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Finance if temporary wage subsidy scheme supports will be extended to businesses reopening following restrictions which are forced to hire an equivalent number of new staff as their previous employees are unable to return to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8590/20]

Bríd Smith

Ceist:

70. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance the supports in place or that are planned to be implemented to aid small businesses (details supplied) that in attempting to reopen their business, find that employees previously availing of the temporary wage subsidy scheme are unable to return to work, leaving many small businesses with no option but to recruit new employees that they cannot avail of the temporary wage subsidy scheme for. [8707/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Finance

I propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 44, 53, 61 and 70 together.

The Temporary Wage Support Scheme (TWSS) is provided for in section 28 of the recently enacted Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020. Deputies will be aware that the TWSS is an emergency measure to deal with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy and in particular to support employment relationships which were already in place before the commencement of the scheme.

The underlying legislation and the scheme itself were developed quickly, having regard to the urgent Government objective of getting much needed assistance to employers and employees, where businesses have been seriously affected by the pandemic and the necessary restrictions introduced as a result of the Public Health Emergency.

Under this legislation, the TWSS can only operate in respect of an employee, whether full-time or part-time, who was on the payroll of the employer as at 29 February 2020. The TWSS builds on data returned to Revenue through its real-time PAYE system. The core principles of the scheme are that:

- the business is suffering significant negative economic impact due to the pandemic,

- the employees in respect of whom the wage subsidy is claimed were included on the employer’s payroll on 29 February 2020, and

- the February 2020 payroll submissions were submitted to Revenue before, in general, 15 March 2020 but recently extended, by concession, to 1 April 2020.

The latter two conditions were particularly designed with a view to preventing abuse of the scheme.

In relation to other direct support measures, I would draw the Deputies' attention to a recent publication by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, which 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/