News | Latest Breaking News Stories & Headlines

Two major support schemes were run by Revenue during the Covid pandemic to help businesses that were struggling due to public health restrictions

€220m in Covid-19 support payments repaid to Revenue

Almost €220m in Covid-19 support payments had to be repaid to the Revenue Commissioners over the past three years.

The seasonally adjusted Live Register total for April stood at 177,100, down 3,900 from March

Live Register figures fall by 3,900 in April - CSO

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the seasonally adjusted Live Register total for April stood at 177,100, down 3,900 from March.

Business • 09 May 22

The wage subsidy schemes have supported 51,000 employers

Profitable firms should refund subsidies - Tánaiste

The Tánaiste has told the Dáil that profitable companies "should refund the money they received under the employment wage subsidy scheme".

Business • 16 Dec 21

So far around €5.7bn has been paid out in wage subsidies during the pandemic

"Alarming" dividends paid by wage subsidy recipients

The Fianna Fáil TD, Jim O'Callaghan, has said it is "alarming" that companies which received the very generous wage supports from the State are paying out dividends to shareholders and called for the scheme to be amended into the future.

Business • 15 Dec 21

Revenue has seen an increase in engagement in recent years from PAYE taxpayers

Remote working expenses easy to claim - Revenue

Around 82,000 people have claimed for remote working expenses for 2020 so far this year, and Revenue is encouraging more taxpayers to do the same.

Business • 29 Oct 21

The Government last year introduced a range of measures to provide financial support to individuals and businesses who have been impacted by Covid-19

1.3 million people benefitted from PUP, TWSS or EWSS

A total of 1,320,837 people benefitted from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), the Temporary Covid-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) or the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) between March 2020 and March 2021.

Business • 20 May 21

The Pandemic Unemployment Payment accounted for €5 billion of the €13.1 billion spent on tackling Covid last year

Government spent €13 billion on tackling Covid in 2020

Figures published the Central Statistics Office today give a provisional breakdown of the €13.1 billion spent by the Government last year to tackle Covid-19.

Business • 21 Apr 21

66,500 employers availed of the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme on behalf of 664,000 employees between March and August of last year

Revenue won't pursue firms for TWSS balance under €500

Companies that received correspondence from Revenue yesterday telling them that they owe money arising from overpayments made under the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme have until the end of June to agree on a payment plan with the tax commissioners.

Business • 23 Mar 21

The Government will continue to assess the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has said

Donohoe urges businesses to avail of Covid supports

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe is encouraging companies to avail of the range of support schemes in place to reduce the impact of new Covid-19 restrictions on their business.

Business • 08 Jan 21

The month with highest uptake of employment-related support was April, the CSO said today

59% of firms used State's employment support schemes

New Central Statistics Office figures show that almost six in ten enterprises in Ireland availed of the State's Covid-19 employment-related support schemes in the months from March to September.

Business • 18 Dec 20

The new arrangements will apply to payroll submissions on or after 20 October

Revenue to speed up payment of wage subsidies

The Revenue Commissioners are to speed up the payment of wage subsidies to employers under the Employer Wage Subsidy Scheme.

Business • 21 Oct 20

Employment Wage Subsidy Schemes will continue during 2021 and the Government will decide on the form of its extension when economic conditions are clearer

'No cliff edge' to wage subsidy schemes - Donohoe

The Government has begun the process to apply for EU funding towards the costs of the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme which could result in Ireland accessing just under €2.5 billion.

budget 2021 • 13 Oct 20

Income tax and USC may be due for some people who were on PUP or TWSS payments during the year

PUP recipients to discover tax liabilities in January

People who have received payments under the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) are to receive bills for any tax they owe as a result in January.

Business • 25 Sep 20

Paschal Donohoe forecast that the EWSS would support around 350,000 jobs

EWSS to cost the State less than TWSS - Donohoe

The Government's new Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme will cost the State over €0.5 billion less that the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme, despite running for two months longer, according to the Minister for Finance.

Business • 10 Sep 20

Numbers claiming PUP are down over 60% from the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic

Covid-19 continues to impact labour market

The number of people claiming the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment has fallen to just under 219,900 - down 5,100 over the last week.

Business • 07 Sep 20

The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme was replaced on Tuesday by the new Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme

Final cost of Government's TWSS almost €2.9 billion

The final cost of the Government's Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme was almost €2.9 billion when it expired last Monday, according to the latest figures from the Revenue Commissioners who administered the scheme.

Business • 04 Sep 20

Pearse Doherty has described the Government's advice as 'confusing'

Concerns over eligibility of low-paid workers for EWSS

Sinn Féin's finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty has raised concerns about the eligibility of low-paid or part-time workers for the new Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme, and described the Government's advice as "confusing".

Business • 28 Aug 20

The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme will be replaced next week by the Employee Wage Subsidy Scheme

Employers need Tax Clearance Cert for EWSS registration

The Revenue Commissioners have warned employers that they must have a Tax Clearance Certificate if they wish to continue to receive State payroll subsidies after September 1.

Business • 27 Aug 20

Over 655,700 workers have received at least one subsidy payment since the TWSS was launched

Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme has cost €2.6bn to date

The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme has cost the Exchequer over €2.61 billion to date, and is now supporting the pay of an estimated 370,000 employees, according to the latest weekly figures from the Revenue Commissioners.

Business • 20 Aug 20

The Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme will provide a flat-rate subsidy to qualifying employers based on the numbers of paid and eligible employees on their payroll

Revenue issues guidance for employers eligible for EWSS

Employers must be able to demonstrate a 30% reduction in turnover between July and December to qualify for the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme which replaces the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme on September 1.

Business • 14 Aug 20

The numbers receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment have fallen sharply as more businesses reopened

Numbers receiving income support down 8.7% in July

The number of people claiming some form of social welfare income support fell 8.7% on a monthly basis in July, however the number of people on the Live Register itself increased.

Business • 07 Aug 20

The PUP is to be extended until next year

Pandemic payment to be extended until April 2021

The Pandemic Unemployment Payment is to be extended until next April but will be gradually reduced to €203 per week over that period based on the pre-pandemic earnings of the claimant.

Coronavirus • 23 Jul 20

Paschal Donohoe said that the employer is expected to make "best efforts" to maintain the employee's average net pre-pandemic income from January and February for the duration of the TWSS

Employers won't be forced to top up subsidy payments

The Minister for Finance has ruled out introducing measures to force employers availing of the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme to top-up their employees' subsidy payments.

Business • 21 Jul 20

Leo Varadkar told the Dáil the Government was also considering opening the scheme to seasonal workers

Govt considers extending Wage Subsidy Scheme

The Government is considering extending the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme and opening it up to people who have not been covered by it such as seasonal workers.

Coronavirus • 16 Jul 20

Many businesses that had been closed have reopened

Draft law to allow those on PUP safeguard entitlements

The Government has approved the drafting of new legislation that will allow those receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment to have access to Social Insurance Benefits in order to safeguard their future welfare entitlements.

Coronavirus • 13 Jul 20