We have now entered a new stage of our recovery. The National Vaccination Programme is having a significant and positive impact.

As society reopens over the coming months, a far-reaching Economic Recovery Plan is extending supports and investing to help people get back to work.

Extension of supports

• Employee Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) and Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) extended for the rest of 2021 with phased adjustments

Practical supports such as individual advice, CV preparation and work placements

• Expanded Jobs Plus Scheme to 8,000 places
• Workplace Experience Programme, 10,000 participants by 2022

Upskilling and reskilling

• Accelerated availability of 50,000 extra education and training places
• Investment of €114m in education and training through Solas Recovery Skills Programme
• 10,000 additional apprenticeships per annum by 2025

Extension and enhancement

• Extension and enhancement of the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS)
• Extension of the Commercial Rates Waiver and Debt Warehousing Schemes
• New Business Resumption Support Scheme
• SME and Entrepreneurship Growth Plan – 2,000 additional SMEs to begin exporting by end 2025
• IDA 2021-2024 Strategy – aims to win 800 total investments to support creation of 50,000 jobs

Support and planning for sectors that have been particularly impacted by the pandemic

• Lower Tourism VAT rate of 9% extended to September 1st, 2022
• Live Performance Support Scheme (LPSS)
• Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme
• New events sector support scheme
• Fáilte Ireland initiatives including Business Continuity Scheme
• Roadmap for Aviation Recovery

Building resilient, productive and innovative businesses for the future

• Digital Transformation of Enterprise Fund
• National Artificial Intelligence Strategy
• Technological University Fund
• National Grand Challenges Programme

Supporting a digital and green economy

• €915 million of funding under the European Recovery and Resilience Facility
• Retrofit Loan Scheme

Balanced regional development

• Updated National Development Plan
• Brexit Adjustment Reserve (over €1bn)
• Remote Working Strategy

Fair recovery

• Social dialogue
• Statutory sick pay
• Wellbeing Framework
• Just Transition

Vaccinations are a key part of our recovery. The progress of the vaccination programme throughout the summer will allow us to continue reopening the economy.

We can see society and the economy recovering slowly and steadily. To maintain our momentum, we need to continue to follow the public health guidelines in the coming weeks.

For full details, please go to gov.ie/recovery.