Coronavirus in Ireland – Irish companies may be able to reopen earlier if virus spread ‘continues to drop’ – The Irish Sun

2

THE reopening of companies could be accelerated if the level of infections continues to drop, Business Minister Heather Humphreys has said.

The second phase of the roadmap is due to kick in on May 18, when outdoor businesses like garden centers, hardware stores and farmers’ markets can reopen while construction workers and gardeners are also allowed back to work.

⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

2

But the Minister gave hope to other enterprises that their entry to the market could be speeded up too.

She told the Irish Times ’coronavirus podcast:“ We saw from the figures this week that we are continuing to flattening the curve.

“If that trend continues we can begin to reopen the economy in line with the roadmap, if not more quickly.

“If the figures go against us and they go up again we may have to reintroduce restrictions.”

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

“If we do well on the figures and if we manage to reduce the amount of people who are contracting the virus there is flexibility in the roadmap to allow them open more quickly.

“Again, we will have to be guided by public health advice but certainly the flexibility is there in the public health roadmap.”

The minister’s comments came as it emerged the cost of keeping the economy afloat is heading for € 1bn.

Assistant Secretary at the Department of the Taoiseach Liz Canavan said the state has so far shelled out € 891m to prop up corona-shuttered businesses.

CLOSING CLAIMS

This consisted of € 878m in payments under the temporary wage subsidy scheme, while a further € 13m has been issued to firms by the Revenue Commissioners.

Around 8,700 people are receiving a payment for the first time this week, although this is down 9,000 on the number of people paid at the same point last week.

Ms Canavan added: “This is the first time that the overall total has decreased since the scheme commenced in March.

“The value of the weekly payment is in the region of € 206m.

“Approximately 98,000 people have not contacted the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection in order to close their claim.”

SWITCHING BACK

There are more than 53,200 employers registered with Revenue for the scheme while about 456,200 employees have received at least one payment.

Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty today welcomed the slight fall in applicants, saying: “We now have a very clear view of the peak of the challenge we currently face.

“As we move through the Government’s phased re-opening of society – while observing the recently published guidance for returning to work – we can expect certain sectors of the labor market to gradually re-open and for more people to close their applications for assistance.

Hopefully the direction of travel from here on will continue to be positive.

“However, there won’t be a quick return to work for everybody and the nature of the virus is such that we won’t be able to switch the economy instantly back in in the same manner as we put it into sleep mode.”