Government outlines changes to support schemes for Level 5 restrictions
The Irish Government has provided further details about the changes to the pandemic support schemes it has put in place, in line with revised health restrictions.
Ireland is now on Level 5 of the National Framework for Living with Covid-19, which is the highest level of the plan. Hair, beauty and spa businesses have been closed since midnight on 21 October, with the restrictions due to remain in place for six weeks.
The Government said the changes to the support schemes are aimed at providing the greatest level of support to businesses and those whose jobs may be at risk during this time. They are designed to ensure that, to the greatest extent possible, as many employees can retain the link with their employer, allowing them to return to the workforce at the earliest opportunity, and to give businesses the greatest changes of getting through the coming weeks.
Among the changes are an update to PUP (Pandemic Unemployment Payment) – the Government has now introduced a fourth rate of payment for people whose gross earnings were €400 per week or higher prior to the pandemic. They will now receive €350 in their PUP payment, with the rate change taking effect for all new applications received since Friday, 16 October.
Existing PUP recipients who previously earned more than €400 per week will have their PUP rate automatically increased, and will receive the higher rate of €350 in next week’s payment run. The other three rates of PUP payment (€203, €250 and €300) remain unchanged.
The Government has also announced that the rate of subsidy provided under the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) has been revised to better support businesses dealing with Covid-19 Level 5 restrictions. Broadly, the EWSS rates will be aligned with the rates of payment under PUP, up to €350 per week, effective from the next payroll date after 19 October.
Where the new Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) is concerned, the qualifying turnover criteria for application to the scheme is now 25% of the turnover for the corresponding period in 2019. This will allow more business to access this support.
The closing date for applications for the Restart Grant has also been extended to 31 October.
