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Hospitality groups meet Tánaiste, Minister over COVID supports

Further restrictions will be introduced on Tuesday to deal high COVID-19 case numbers
Jack Quann
Jack Quann

06.41 6 Dec 2021


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Hospitality groups meet Tánais...

Hospitality groups meet Tánaiste, Minister over COVID supports

Jack Quann
Jack Quann

06.41 6 Dec 2021


Share this article


Hospitality groups will meet with the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Tourism Minister Catherine Martin later to discuss supports for the sector.

It follows the announcement that further restrictions will be introduced on Tuesday to deal high COVID-19 case numbers.

People who lose their jobs as a result of the measures will be allowed re-apply for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) at the top rate of €350.

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It was announced last week that the PUP would be re-opened "for a limited period" arising from the new restrictions.

While the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) will remain in place at current rates of payment and qualification criteria.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe is introducing a new scheme for businesses in the hospitality sector that are subject to restrictions.

The Government says this will adjust the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) to support businesses "whose trade is significantly impacted and which are subject to regulatory restrictions on operating".

This will involve a weekly payment of 12% of turnover for qualifying businesses.

There will also be a further extension of the current targeted Commercial Rates Waiver for the first quarter of 2022.

This is to be put in place at an additional cost of around €62.3m, the Government adds.

It is also making additional funding of €25m - in addition to the €25m already provided in Budget 2022 - to support the live entertainment sector.

Minister Donohoe told On The Record on Sunday he expected the PUP would return at its original rate of €350 for those made unemployed by the restrictions.

"My expectation is that it will be paid at the higher rate.

"We absolutely appreciate that there are some who are working in, for example, nightclubs - to give a very concrete example - that now find that their employment has gone nearly overnight.

"And we fully understand and appreciate the shock that that has created for those who are working in that sector.

"So Minister [for Social Protection Heather] Humphreys will outline that plan in the coming days.

"But I'll simply say that we appreciate that there is a group of workers in a really important part of our hospitality sector in particular who are finding themselves unemployed again within a year and we have a particular responsibility to them", he said.

While speaking on Friday, Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys said: "I know many workers in the hospitality sector will be worried tonight.

"The Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be open for applications for workers impacted by these latest restrictions.

"My department is finalising arrangements and full details will be announced, and the scheme will be ready for new applicants, by Tuesday."

Main image: Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar pictured at Government Buildings for Budget 2022 in October 2021. Picture by: Julien Behal / RollingNews.ie

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CRSS Catherine Martin Covid Covid Restrictions EWSS Heather Humphreys Hospitality Hospitality Supports Leo Varadkar Live Entertainment PUP Pandemic Unemployment Payment Paschal Donohoe

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