Speaking on
The Last Word on Today FM Thursday evening, Minister for Social Protection
Eamonn Ó’Cuiv admitted the Employment Subsidy Scheme – to which the government
allocated €250m - had in fact ceased with only €133 million spent. The Employment Subsidy Scheme was set up in 2009 to protect jobs at
viable but vulnerable businesses. ISME Chief Executive Mark Fielding sought the Minister’s
clarification on this point to which O’Cuiv confirmed, “Yes, that figure is
correct”.
Fielding also noted the Employment Subsidy Scheme excluded
businesses with less than 10 employees to which O'Cuiv highlighted that a PRSI
Contribution Scheme was now in place.
Listen to the interview here: O'Cuiv admits €120m government rollback