Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020

Tuesday, 14 July 2020

Ceisteanna (286)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

286. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 63 of 30 June 2020, the way in which he can reconcile the fact that dividing an annual salary paid monthly by 52 results in a higher number than if it is calculated in accordance with the guidance for average revenue net weekly pay, ANRWP; and if a review will be conducted of payments made through the temporary wage subsidy scheme to ensure that no underpayments occurred. [14813/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Finance

As previously advised to the Deputy in Parliamentary Question Nos. 63 of 30 June 2020 and 168 of 7 July 2020, under the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) the amount of subsidy payable to eligible employees is based on their ‘average revenue net weekly pay’ (ARNWP) for January and February 2020, as returned by the employer to Revenue through the real-time PAYE system.

The use of January and February 2020 payroll as the base-period for calculating the employee ARNWP was confirmed by me in my letter of 16 April 2020 to Revenue, which also sets out my determinations of the amount of wage subsidy payable to different classes of employees.

Revenue advises me that it is satisfied that the TWSS is correctly calculating the amount of subsidy due to employees in accordance with the legislation contained in The Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (COVID-19) Act 2020 and my determination letter of 16 April 2020 and that there are no plans for a review.