I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 to 228, inclusive, together.
Revenue is publishing regular statistical updates on the operation of the Employment Wage Support Scheme (EWSS), as it did previously for the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS). 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.
In the statistics release dated 15 October 2020 at the above link, Table 3 shows the numbers of EWSS employers and employees by county for September (the most recent full month EWSS payment data). For Louth, these figures are roughly 850 and 7,500 respectively. Regarding Question 228, Table 4 of the same statistics shows the number of employees in respect of whom EWSS is being paid, by their weekly pay range.
Regarding Question 227, the EWSS operates as a flat rate subsidy based on the number of qualifying employees on each employer’s payroll. Employers operate payroll as normal while in receipt of EWSS and therefore, unlike the TWSS, the issue of employer additional pay or top-ups does not arise.