The Department of Social Protection has put in place a special team to review more than 2,000 backdated claims by Aer Lingus staff to determine if they were entitled to welfare support over the summer months.
How an invisible microbe wreaked unemployment havoc
Updated / Tuesday, 29 Dec 2020
10:04
Industry and Employment Correspondent
As 2020 draws to a close, literally hundreds of thousands of workers are facing joblessness, financial uncertainty and fear for the future.
The year had begun so well - and no one could have forecast such a bleak outcome.
Back in February, unemployment stood at around 4.8% - in economic terms, that is almost full employment.
Incomes were rising, and the economy was buoyant, delivering a surplus of round 0.4% of GDP in 2019.
But on 29 February came the first case of Covid-19 - and everything changed utterly.
As the virus took hold, there were two questions for workers in Ireland.
Business Journalist
Having entered the year expecting to have money to spare, 2020 saw the Government undertake an emergency spending programme that involved unprecedented levels of support for individuals and business.
With budget deficits the default position since the financial crisis, the prospect of a 0.2% surplus in 2020 was sure to have made finance officials giddy with delight.
Then the pandemic hit.
What followed was a dramatic increase in Government spending - targeted at both the healthcare sector, but also the businesses and workers impacted by the first lockdown.
A payment for those forced out of work due to Covid - what would become the Pandemic Unemployment Payment - was unveiled, along with a subsidy for businesses that had remained open, but were facing a serious revenue hit all the same.
Revenue is subjecting 1,600 businesses to detailed reviews as part of a compliance sweep on employers who used the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) between March and August.
A swimming ban remains in place for Kilkee beach.
Holidaymakers urged to stay away from Kilkee for health reasons
December 23, 2020
A former Mayor of Kilkee has urged tourists and visitors to stay away from the West Clare holiday hotspot during the holiday period to minimise the spread of Covid-19.
While Claire Haugh stressed holidaymakers are normally very welcome in Kilkee, she is concerned that any large influx of people into the town could result in the unwanted transmission of the virus.
“It is a hugely difficult and dangerous time for everyone and the safety of people in Kilkee is paramount. We welcome visitors all year round but these are different and frightening times.