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Ministers Eoghan Murphy, Paschal Donohoe and Heather Humphreys at a press conference today. Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

Donohoe says no decision made yet on extending wage subsidy scheme

The Minister for Finance said he understood the need for clarity on the scheme for businesses going forward.

MINISTER FOR FINANCE Paschal Donohoe has said that the government is aware that “further decisions” will be needed in relation to the Covid Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme, but no decision has been made yet to extend it. 

So far, 49,000 employers have signed up to the wage subsidy scheme where the government pays 70% (or in some cases 85%) of a worker’s wages for companies adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The scheme aims to keep employees on the books for the duration of the crisis by paying a subsidy equal to up to 70% of an employee’s take home pay, up to €410 a week.

It was introduced on 26 March for a period of 12 weeks.

However, after the government published its roadmap for the Irish economy to reopen again last night, it became clear that many businesses will be unable to return to normal trading by the time the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme expires in mid-June. 

Speaking today when announcing new supports for businesses, Minister Donohoe said the wage subsidy scheme was something the government was looking at.

“I’m absolutely aware of the approaching end point for those schemes, and also aware of the huge value that they are playing in supporting many companies still be viable and employing citizens today,” he said.

The government today in our discussion did acknowledge that we will need to make further decisions in relation to that scheme and how it interacts with the pandemic unemployment payment. But those decisions have not yet been taken.

Donohoe added he understood the need to get clarity in advance of that end date on the future of the scheme. 

This scheme and the Covid Unemployment Payment supports could cost the government nearly €5 billion in three months, according to a report from the Economic & Social Research Institute (ESRI). 

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    Mute Fran O'Keeffe
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    May 2nd 2020, 1:35 PM

    He’s not making any changes for people working on the front line unreal

    55
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    Mute ThatLJD
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    May 2nd 2020, 2:03 PM

    Pascal, Simon and Eoghan not one of them if I met through the course of my work would I think on first impressions and look like someone I’d be happy to do business or work with. They all look shifty and not confident that they belong where they are. Almost as if they’re waiting to get found out. There body language is horrendous and its fairly obvious that other than public speaking they’re not really good at much else.

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    Mute EillieEs
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    May 2nd 2020, 2:06 PM

    @ThatLJD: that probably says a lot more about you and the people you usually do business with than the people you mentioned.

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    Mute ThatLJD
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    May 2nd 2020, 2:10 PM

    @ThatLJD: *their

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    Mute David Corrigan
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    May 2nd 2020, 4:51 PM

    @EillieEs: I am afraid he is correct. Those politicians he listed would maybe at best hold down very low level management positions in a private company. Yes Men who HR would love but they would never be put in charge of important projects etc.

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    Mute GrumpyAulFella
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    May 2nd 2020, 5:00 PM

    @David Corrigan: what politicians would?

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    Mute David Corrigan
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    May 2nd 2020, 5:08 PM

    @GrumpyAulFella: You tell me. We have a college dropout in charge of the largest budget in the country. When you read that back to yourself it’s a very frightening thing.

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    Mute ThatLJD
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    May 2nd 2020, 5:14 PM

    @David Corrigan: I know people moan about the seanad being ineffective but at least there you will say there are a few characters who’ve been in the work place and know what they’re on about. Some of them, not all of them. Then you look at pascal, wallace etc. I could go on across every party but I won’t. Few if any have ever had any real sense of the Irish workplace. If I came across most of them I’d laugh and that’s coming from having to deal with some very laughable and shady characters in my time.

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    Mute David Corrigan
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    May 2nd 2020, 5:16 PM

    @ThatLJD: I fully agree. They don’t inspire people for sure.

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    Mute ThatLJD
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    May 2nd 2020, 5:41 PM

    @David Corrigan: I’d settle for a small feeling of confidence in them, inspirational would be too far fetched! Its nice to know when you meet someone doing a job for you that you’ve a feeling they know what they’re on about and give you a bit of confidence in how they even speak with you. All of these do not. If its not written down then they dither soundbites and clichés!

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    Mute Mark
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    May 2nd 2020, 2:41 PM

    Should be handing out €150 food vouchers that can’t be used for alcohol and €50 for expenses a week.

    39
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    Mute martin maguire
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    May 2nd 2020, 2:28 PM

    The Digger Murphy, Fiscal Donohoe and The Header Humphreys collectively known as a nest of vipers.

    41
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    Mute martin maguire
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    May 2nd 2020, 2:22 PM

    The 3 stooges at the podiums. We as a nation deserve better.

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    Mute Modern Irish Dad
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    May 2nd 2020, 1:38 PM

    Don’t know what you heard about me
    But a b…h can’t get a dollar outta me
    No Cadillac, no perms, you can’t see
    That I’m a motherduckin’ TD

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    Mute Peter O Donnell
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    May 2nd 2020, 1:55 PM

    Ryanair, Aer Lingus and anyone involved in the aviation sector will be looking for it go to a lot lot longer or else more job cuts.

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    Mute Maurice O Neill
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    May 2nd 2020, 1:36 PM

    Come on the Donald

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    Mute Logan Shepherd
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    May 2nd 2020, 1:42 PM

    @Maurice O Neill: You must go through a fair amount of kleenex in fairness.

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    Mute Nikolina Fiume
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    May 2nd 2020, 2:58 PM

    I wonder how many people would shout stay at home if these were cut out.

    12
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