An announcement for enhanced business supports appears to have been postponed from tomorrow until Tuesday.
The Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath said that changes to the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) and Business Resumption Support Scheme (BRSS) schemes are still being worked on.
Speaking on RTÉ’s This Week programme, Mr McGrath said that the Cabinet will meet on Tuesday and if a further meeting is required over Christmas that will be arranged.
He said the Government always stands ready to respond to events as they unfold, while adding that there is ongoing contact between Government and business representative bodies.
Minister McGrath said that no Government wants to impose restrictions that results in people losing their jobs.
However, he said that the Government has been presented with a scenario where the Omicron variant will result in a huge rise in cases and that is why they have made the moves they have.
Mr McGrath said that the number of people losing their jobs in the coming weeks will be significant and that employers are being asked to keep employees on the books where possible.
The minister said the Government has committed to the enhanced rates of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme.
He said the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is open for applications and that there will be a payment on Tuesday.
Mr McGrath said where people are in difficulty, they should seek an exceptional needs payment.
He said the Government was also looking at changes to the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme.
The minister said this was designed to support businesses when they are closed, but that we are now in a different space where trading hours are being affected.
