People returning from maternity leave are now able to access the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme.

Speaking after this morning’s Cabinet meeting, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said officials had fixed an “anomaly” that blocked people returning from leave from accessing the scheme.

It is believed around 2,000 women returning from maternity were blocked from accessing the scheme due to the issue.

Up until now, employers needed to show that workers were on the payroll in January and February in order to access the subsidy.

That meant that people who were on unpaid leave could not access it.

Minister Donohoe said the changes to the scheme have been backdated to March 26th.

It means that any employee who lost their job will now be able to return with a subsidised wage.

Companies that allowed employees to return without the subsidised wage will now be able to access the subsidy for the nine weeks dating back to March 26th.

They will not be able to access it if the employee was granted the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.