Minister O’Brien welcomes confirmation of EWSS and CRSS supports for businesses

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Local Fingal TD Darragh O’Brien has welcomed the fact that from 1 January 2022, the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) will re-open for businesses affected by the ongoing pandemic and associated restrictions. Businesses who have previously availed of EWSS but who are no longer eligible, will have the opportunity to re-qualify for the scheme where they meet certain conditions.
Minister O’Brien also welcomed Cabinet approval for the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) which will be made available to those businesses directly impacted by the latest public health restrictions. The turnover reduction criteria will be increased from 25% to 40%, and new businesses established between 13 October 2020 and 26 July 2021 will now be eligible to apply for the scheme.
Cabinet also agreed today to an extension of the tax debt warehousing scheme to allow the period where liabilities arising can be “warehoused” to be extended to the end of Q1 2022 for all taxpayers eligible for the Covid-19 support schemes.
Commenting Minister O’Brien said, “These latest supports announced by Government, which come on top of my own Department’s extension of the Commercial Rates Waiver for businesses to the end of Q1 2022, are a further demonstration of Government’s determination to keep businesses operating and people in employment.
“We know that restrictions are particularly devastating for certain industries and that some have suffered way more than others. Since the very beginning of this pandemic the Government have consistently tried to support businesses and employees.
“Since the onset of the pandemic, the Government has provided €48bn to support our economy and society. The overall support provided to-date by the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) is €6.7 billion, subsidising the wages of 700,000 workers in 51,800 businesses. A total of €704m has already been paid under the CRSS scheme to 25,500 business and my Department has granted Commercial Rates Waivers totalling over €1.5bn.
“We recognise that keeping the link between the employer and the employee is hugely important for the recovery of our economy. We have not been found wanting in assisting those most impacted by the pandemic and the restrictions imposed and I will continue to advocate at Cabinet for continued supports for these sectors,” he concluded.