Almost 60% of businesses in Republic claiming Covid support during pandemic Almost six in 10 hairdressing and other beauty treatment enterprises had at least three quarters of their staff on Covid-19 income support in January 2021 Cate McCurry, PA 28 April, 2021 11:12
Almost 60% of Irish businesses were claiming Covid-19 income supports at the outbreak of the pandemic, figures show.
Research by the Central Statistics Office shows that it dropped to a low of 30% of businesses in September last year.
The CSO published the results of its series on Business Signs of Life: State Supports, which examines changes in the Irish business economy during the Covid-19 crisis.
Business Editor
Supports to help employers cope with the impact of Covid-19 have already cost the State €9bn, the Minister for Finance has said.
The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) cost almost €3bn while its successor the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) has cost €2.8bn, with almost half a billion in PRSI foregone.
On top of that, the cost of the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) is approaching €500m and €2.3 billion of tax debt has been warehoused, Paschal Donohoe said.
In addition to that total €9bn, a further €6.5bn has been paid out under the Pandemic Unemployment Payment by the Department of Social Protection.
Minister McGrath updates Cabinet on the Public Expenditure position
The Minster for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath, TD today (Tuesday), gave a detailed update to Cabinet on the end of March expenditure position, including an update on expenditure performance of Departments against profile and a year on year comparison, and a briefing on the expenditure outlook for the months ahead.
The additional expenditure reporting requirements that Minister McGrath brought to Cabinet recently will come into effect later this month as a number of Ministers bring forward memos on their departmental spending to date, and plans for expenditure over the remainder of the year.
Economics Correspondent
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.
The Pandemic Unemployment Payment accounted for €5 billion, the CSO figures show.
The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme and its replacement, the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme, accounted for €3.8 billion. Health sector expenditure came in at €2 billion.
Today s figures show that €100m was spent on primary care and repatriation , €600m on restart grants for businesses.
€200m was spent on the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), €100m on other enterprise support schemes, €800m on IT services and €500m categorised as other .
Two-thirds of Government s €13bn Covid spend in 2020 went on income supports irishtimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from irishtimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.