€1bn spent on wage subsidies during Covid-19 pandemic
Almost a billion euro has been paid to subsidise wages benefiting nearly half a million workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The latest figures from the Department of Social Protection come as some workplaces reopen today and as small numbers of employees continue to move off emergency welfare and back onto wage schemes.
Department of Taoiseach assistant secretary general Liz Canavan outlined how 585,000 people who were unemployed last week would receive their weekly payment of €350 under the COVID-19 pandemic unemployment payments scheme.
The payment will be available in their nominated bank account or post office tomorrow, and the overall value of the weekly payment is in the region of €202 million.
People moving off the emergency pandemic welfare payment and back to work are being advised to close claims the day they return to work and to notify authorities.
She said that the wage subsidy scheme now covered 54,400 employers since March and had been claimed by 467,600 workers.
“The cumulative value of payments made to employers under the scheme is 977 million,” said Ms Canavan during a briefing.
Meanwhile, the commercial vehicle road worthiness testing network will reopen today for vehicles with a test due date prior to the 28th of March.
Test centres will make specific arrangements and also ensure there are no risks to spreading the virus, it was added.
