July Jobs Stimulus

The July Jobs Stimulus is a €7.4 billion stimulus package announced by the Government of Ireland on 23 July 2020 in response to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland.[1][2][3] The package includes 50 measures to boost economic recovery and get people back to work.[4] The spending primarily includes €115 million for active travel, public transport and renewal of transport infrastructure, €75 million for primary and secondary schools to carry out reconfiguration works necessary to support schools' reopening in late August and September 2020 and €112 million in employment services and supports to deliver 47,500 training and apprenticeship places and a €450 million package of business supports including a €250 million Restart Grant to provide direct grant aid to businesses with up to 250 employees to help them with the costs associated with reopening and reemploying workers.[5][6][7][8]

The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, due to close on 10 August, would be extended until April 2021 and will be gradually reduced to €203 per week over that period based on the pre-pandemic earnings of the claimant as part of the package.[9] From 17 September 2020, the scheme would close to new applications and the headline rate of payment would reduce from €350 to €300.[10] The Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme would be replaced by the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme in September 2020, which would run until April 2021.[11][12]

  1. ^ "July Jobs Stimulus". gov.ie. Government of Ireland. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  2. ^ Horgan-Jones, Jack; Leahy, Pat (23 July 2020). "July stimulus: Surprise tax cut and help-to-buy scheme expanded". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  3. ^ "July Stimulus: VAT reduction, Help to Buy boost, grants and subsidies". Irish Examiner. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  4. ^ Miley, Ingrid (23 July 2020). "Government announces €5bn package to reboot economy". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  5. ^ Maguire, Adam (23 July 2020). "July Stimulus: What's in it for me?". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  6. ^ "July Jobs Stimulus Plan". gov.ie. Department of Climate Action and Transport. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Additional capital funding for all schools". gov.ie. Department of Education. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Minister Humphreys announces €2.3 billion expenditure on income and employment supports as part of the July Stimulus Package". gov.ie. Department of Social Protection. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  9. ^ Miley, Ingrid (23 July 2020). "Pandemic payment to be extended until April 2021". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  10. ^ "COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment Rates until April 2021". gov.ie. Department of Social Protection. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  11. ^ Hennessy, Michelle (23 July 2020). "Pandemic Unemployment Payment extended – but some rates will be tapered from 17 September". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  12. ^ Gataveckaite, Gabija (23 July 2020). "July Stimulus Package Live Updates: Taoiseach announces €5.2bn economic package, with VAT cut from 23pc to 21pc and help-to-buy scheme expanded". Irish Independent. Retrieved 23 July 2020.