Following the announcement by An Taoiseach last Friday that new public health restrictions will be imposed on the hospitality sector and indoor events from Tuesday, 07 December to Sunday, 09 January 2022, it was expected that a new support scheme would be announced to target those affected businesses.
Earlier this week, however, it was decided to drop plans for a new scheme and instead extend two existing schemes namely the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) and the Covid Restriction support Scheme(CRSS).
The EWSS will remain at its original rates for the next two months while the CRSS will remain in place until the end of January for businesses forced to closed.
A commercial rates waiver for hospitality, tourism and the live events industries will also be extended until March next year.
The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) has been reopened for new applicants who lost their job on or after 7 December as a result of the new restrictions being imposed.