The Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, T.D., has today announced that there will be no change to the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) for the month of October 2021.
This means that the EWSS will continue to operate in its current form during October 2021, so that the main eligibility requirement is a 30% decrease in turnover or customer orders in the full year 2021 compared to the full year 2019. The enhanced rates of support and the reduced rate of Employers’ PRSI will continue to apply for the month of October 2021.
No decisions have yet been taken as to the appropriate operational parameters for EWSS for the remainder of Quarter 4 2021 (November and December) and its possible extension beyond end-2021. The Minister is considering a range of possible options for the future of EWSS and such arrangements will be outlined on Budget Day, 12 October 2021.
While Government policy is to avoid a cliff-edge approach to the support schemes, as the recovery gains momentum, it will be necessary to give consideration to the recalibration and ultimately the phasing out the temporary support schemes. As such and as signalled previously, the Minister is considering the appropriate calibration of various elements and features of the EWSS.
It should also be noted that consideration is to be given to the appropriate calibration of EWSS and the future arrangements for EWSS will be outlined on Budget Day, 12 October 2021.