The Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) will be extended until the end of January and be restored to November's higher rates, the Government has confirmed.
The decision comes just over a week since the EWSS rate was cut.
Minister Paschal Donohoe said they couldn't design a targeted scheme for the hospitality sector in time for Christmas and so have gone this route instead.
The commercial rates waiver for businesses has been extended until the end of March 2022.
The CRSS (COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme) has been extended until the end of January for nightclubs and discos.
Effectively the Government has done what many businesses wanted and returned to the November rates of the wage subsidy scheme for ALL businesses where turnover is down at least 30%
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) December 9, 2021
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe says businesses impacted but not closed by current restrictions will get two months of the higher rate of the wage subsidy scheme.
He said: "We're proposing an extension of the November rates of EWSS up to the end of January.
"That will be for all sectors in the economy, but for any company or employer to be on this they need to be able to demonstrate a 30% decline in their business."
Employers' group IBEC was among the groups that had called for the EWSS to be restored for businesses impacted by current restrictions.
It has previously been confirmed that the PUP will reopen for anyone who loses their job as a direct result of new restrictions.
Earlier, Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath told Newstalk Breakfast the Government “fully accepts” that some people will lose their job as a result of the latest restrictions.
He also said funding will be provided for venues to continue to put on events while capacity is reduced to 50%.
