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Mind yourself during lockdown. Hopefully the following tips will help;- Remember you can only try your best, this is new to us all. We are all learning as we go.- Properly disconnect if and when you can, switch off devices unless they’re really necessary. - Take a walk, without the phone.- Check in with family, friends and work colleagues now and then, just to just ask how they are.- If you get any spare time wrap yourself in a warm blanket and read a book.- Make sure to do something fun each day, if you have a pet play fetch with them, if you have children why not play a board game or teach them how to play cards.- Breath - try the <a href="https://www.wimhofmethod.com/" target="_blank">Wim Hof method</a> – for breathing exercises.- Get in the sea/lake or take a cold shower to reset the mind.- Develop a night routine before bed - 1 hour before bedtime no screens (TV, phone), stretch, meditate, read fiction (hardback).- To also help with sleep, cut out caffeine for a couple of days and see can you notice a difference.Remember this storm will pass<ul></ul><ul>Graphic: The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse - Charlie Mackesy</ul>

This Storm will Pass

Have you tapped the huge potential in telling as many people as possible that you know personally about your job search? This is especially worthwhile in such a small country like Ireland where if you don’t already know somebody in your desired industry or job, you probably know somebody who knows somebody. This might sound like the headbangers whose claim to fame is that their sister’s fourth cousin’s uncle is the president of Ireland. But hold your cynicism for a second. Any human connection is better than no connection. People like to work with, hire, do business with people they already know including people who the people they know, know! This is about trust. Those who can be even reasonably trusted get more doors opened for them and faster. But this won’t happen by itself. First we need to make an ask. In other words, let people know we&#x27;re on the lookout for opportunities so that they can open them for us. Or they can connect us with their friends who can.People love to help. It’s important we reframe this idea of asking for help. Think of it this way. By asking for help we are giving people the opportunity to help us. When we consider how much meaning, purpose, and how much of a kick we get out of helping others, why not give this same feeling to them by asking for a hand? Of course there’s a difference between making an ask and being a pain in the ass. As long as we show initiative and don’t expect others to do all of the heavy lifting for us, people are always happy to help.In order to make an ask we first need to have a general sense of what we are asking for. We don’t even need to be specific. For example, we don’t need to know that our former colleague has a sister who could get us an interview with a company we’d like to work for. How could we possibly know that information anyway? However we do need to have a strong sense of a general direction from our side. This direction might be knowing what role we’d like to work at, what industry we’d like to start in, the people or company we’d like to work for or even the location we’d like to be employed in. All we need is one general sense of our desire. After that it’s about naturally expressing this desire with as many people as you can. Not in the sense of complaining that we are not there yet. Nobody wants to listen to or help a moaning Michael. Instead with a sense of excitement about the possibility of your desire becoming a reality. That’s all we need to do. We often underestimate the power of speaking our desire. Perhaps no opportunities arise the first few times. But each time we speak our desire, we become clearer and clearer on what it is we want. On top of that, those we talk to can help us see different routes towards our goals we might never have considered. People are inherently helpful. When we affirm their good qualities and put things out there by making an ask, we can be surprised by how opportunities will seem to unfold out of nowhere.

Making an ask - An unconventional approach to your next job

Paddy O' Leary

<h1></h1><h2><h2>Workers affected by updated Level 5 restrictions advised to apply for Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) ONLINE to ensure payment is made as quickly as possible.</h2></h2>Today, the Government reintroduced Level 5 restrictions of the Plan for Living with Covid across the country. These restrictions come into effect at midnight 30th December and will remain in place until 31st January 2021.The measures taken will have an impact on the economic life of the country and consequently people whose jobs are affected by the restrictions can avail of income support through the Pandemic Unemployment Payment for the period they are out of work.Minister Humphreys said:<blockquote>“The decision taken by Government today reflects the seriousness of the situation we currently face. I recognise that this decision will have an impact on people’s livelihoods and this is why I want to remind people who have lost their job that they should apply for PUP income support. The quickest and easiest way to do so is online via <a href="www.MyWelfare.ie" target="_blank">www.MyWelfare.ie</a>”</blockquote>The Minister continued:<blockquote>“I have put arrangements in place to ensure that those who require PUP income support will, provided they are eligible, receive this as quickly as possible.”</blockquote>People who have been made unemployed from 30th December and who apply online by 5pm on 31st December will receive a payment on Tuesday 5th January once they are eligible.People who are diagnosed with the Covid-19 virus or who have to self-isolate and are medically certified by their doctor, also have the option of applying for the Enhanced Illness Benefit online at <a href="www.MyWelfare.ie" target="_blank">www.MyWelfare.ie</a>.Full information on the Enhanced Illness Benefit is available here. To contact the Department of Social Protection by phone, the helpline number is 1890 800 024, from 9.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).To find out what supports are available for me during the COVID-19 pandemic go to <a href="https://services.mywelfare.ie/en/topics/covid-19-payments/" target="_blank">www.MyWelfare.ie </a>or go to the Citizens Information website <a href="https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/covid19/covid19_overview.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> <a href="https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/covid19/covid19_overview.html" target="_blank"></a>

Apply online for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment 

The government has today agreed that Level 5 as set out in the Plan for Living with COVID-19 will apply nationally.This will come into effect at midnight tonight, 30 December for all measures, with the exception of non-essential retail and gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools. These businesses should close from close of business on 31 December. Level 5 restrictions will remain in place until midnight on 31 January 2021.The government has considered a number of factors in arriving at this decision, particularly NPHET concerns that the epidemiological profile of COVID-19 has continued to deteriorate very substantially.It is recognised that this decision will have an impact on people’s lives and livelihoods, but the clear message is that we must all now stay at home, with the exception of essential purposes, in order to stop the spread of the virus. Supports such as the PUP and the CRSS will continue to be made available to those impacted. A double payment of the CRSS, up to a maximum of €5,000 a week will be available to those subject to restrictions this week and next week. Furthermore, businesses affected will be able to avail of commercial rates relief for the first three months of 2021. The Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) is also available to help maintain people in jobs, along with extensive tax warehousing arrangements, reduced VAT rates, the spend and stay scheme, a range of reduced cost loans, grants and voucher schemes.The government further agreed that the ban on air travel and passenger travel on ferries from the UK will be extended to 6 January. As a similar new strain has been identified in South Africa, this ban will also apply to South Africa until 6 January.<h2>Overview of restrictions</h2><h3>Family and social gatherings</h3><ul><li>no visitors are permitted in private homes/gardens (except for essential family reasons such as providing care to children, elderly or vulnerable people, or as part of a support bubble)</li><li>no social/family gatherings should take place in other settings</li><li>people may meet with people from one other household in outdoor settings when taking exercise</li></ul><h3>Weddings and funerals</h3><ul><li>weddings planned up to and including 2 January may proceed as planned, up to a maximum of 25 guests. Weddings from 3 January may proceed, but with a maximum of 6 guests</li><li>funerals may have up to 10 mourners</li></ul><h3>Domestic travel restrictions</h3><ul><li>people will be required to stay at home except for travel for work, education or other essential purposes, and will be permitted to take exercise within 5km of home</li><li>people away from their place of residence on 31 December will be permitted to return to their place of residence</li></ul><h3>Retail and personal services</h3><ul><li>all retail, other than essential retail must close from close of business on 31 December</li><li>all non-essential services remain closed</li><li>click and collect services will be available</li></ul><h3>Work</h3><ul><li>work from home unless essential for work which is an essential health, social care or other essential service and cannot be done from home</li></ul><h3>Schools, early learning and childcare services, higher and adult education</h3><ul><li>early learning and childcare services open with protective measures</li><li>schools open from 11 January with further review on precise situation in advance of that date</li><li>higher, further and adult education should remain primarily online</li></ul><h1>Statement by An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin on the re-introduction of Level 5 restrictions of the Plan for Living with COVID-19</h1><h1></h1>From Department of the Taoiseach By: An Taoiseach; Micheál MartinPublished on 30 December 2020Just eight days ago, I stood here and explained why we needed to introduce a range of strict new controls in the effort to curb this latest wave of COVID infections.I explained that while we didn’t, at that stage, have evidence that the new, more virulent strain of COVID was in our country, the safest and most responsible thing to do was to proceed on the assumption that it was already here.Unfortunately, that fear proved to be correct.On Christmas Eve, we received the news we had feared – confirmation that the new strain is indeed in our country.While international research into this new variant is ongoing, it is already very clear that we are dealing with a strain of the disease that spreads much, much more quickly.Indeed, it is spreading at a rate that has surpassed the most pessimistic models available to us.With the disease spreading much faster, the threat of our health system being overwhelmed and the risk of increased sickness and death among our vulnerable and older populations is obvious.And it has become urgent.In the week before Christmas, we were seeing about 5% of tests coming back as COVID-positive.Yesterday, 18% of those tested were infected with the disease.Over the last seven days, more than 8,000 cases have been confirmed. That is a 61% increase on the previous week.This latest surge is different to the second wave. We are seeing rising incidence of the disease across all age groups, especially those aged 19-24 and a very worrying increase among those aged 65 and older.During the second wave, there was a long delay between an increase in cases and an increase in hospital admissions.This time is very different.We are already seeing a sharp rise in the number of hospital admissions. This morning, there were 454 COVID patients in hospital. It has almost doubled in a week.The Reproduction number is currently estimated at between 1.6 and 1.8.The situation is extremely serious.The numbers will deteriorate further over the coming days.As we have navigated the different phases of this crisis together, I have always been clear that we will do what we need to do to suppress the virus when it is growing;and it is now growing exponentially.The truth is, that with the presence of the new strain and the pace of growth, this is not a time for nuance in our response.We must apply the brakes to movement and physical interaction across the country.We must return to full scale, Level 5 restrictions for a period of at least one month.In practice, that will mean the following further restrictions:<ul><li>from this evening, no visitors are permitted in private homes or gardens, unless they are providing care to children, the elderly or vulnerable, or are part of a support bubble</li></ul><ul><li>no social or family gatherings should take place in any setting. There will be an exemption for weddings, where up to 6 guests will be allowed, and funerals, where up to 10 mourners will be allowed</li></ul><ul><li>you should stay at home, except for travel for work, education or other essential purposes, or to take exercise within 5km of home</li></ul><ul><li>all non-essential retail and gyms will close tomorrow at close of business</li></ul><ul><li>all public health analysis is showing that schools are safe, and schools will reopen, but slightly delayed to 11th January</li></ul><ul><li>by extending the break by 3 days the new restrictions I am announcing this evening will be in place for more than 10 days when schools open. Families will have had an opportunity to ensure that their contacts are minimised before children return to school.</li></ul>The last time that we faced such restrictive measures was when this disease first exploded in our midst in early 2020.I am deeply conscious that we are in a very different space now.We are all weary, from the bottom of our hearts, of this disease and the impact it has had on our lives.The next month, as we face into these strictest controls in the depth of winter, is going to be very tough for everyone.But there is another key difference between then and now.After a year of the most extraordinary effort by the most talented scientific minds on earth, we have safe and effective vaccines.We have the most technologically advanced factories in history working around the clock producing this life saving intervention, and we have a global supply chain distributing it around the world.For the first time since this awful disease landed on our shores, we truly have an end in sight.Thousands of vaccines are arriving here weekly, and by the end of January, I am confident that many tens of thousands of our most vulnerable citizens and our healthcare workers will have been vaccinated.The vaccines are now being administered efficiently and safely, but this will take time. The virus can still do immense damage until we have progressed much, much further with the vaccination programme.We are a society that looks out for the people around us.And what we are doing now with these new restrictions is working to keep as many of our parents, grandparents, neighbours and friends safe until such time as they have been vaccinated.This disease and the response it requires is causing massive disruption to our society and it is undermining our economy.It is having an effect on the mental health of young and old that we will not understand for some time to come.It is costing billions of Euro.But the most important responsibility that we all share is to protect the lives of those we love.The actions that we are taking – as a society and as individuals – is saving lives.We will rebuild the economy, we will repair the damage to our society.We will come to terms with this crisis and make sense of the trauma we have all been through in due course.We will do all these things, and we will start them this coming year, because the vaccine now exists.But right now, this is what we must do.We must stay at home and eliminate contact with others now, to make sure that as many of our people as possible are still with us to enjoy the better, brighter days that are up ahead.<blockquote>Beidh spiorad na meithle, aire, cúram agus foighne ag teastáil san míonna amach romhainn go dtí go dtiocfaidh éifeacht na vaisciní i bhfeidhm. Idir an dalinn, caithfimid a bheith ciallmhar agus cúramach agusna srianta Leibhéal a Cúig seo a leanúint. Táim cinntego dtiocfaimid slán. Caithfimid a bheith dóchasach.</blockquote><blockquote>Mar a deir an seanfhocal, is é an dóchas lia gach anró.</blockquote><blockquote>Beannachtaí na hAthbhliana oraibh uilig.</blockquote>Go raibh maith agaibh.Source: https://www.gov.ie/en/publications/

Level 5 to come into effect midnight 30th December 2020

2020, the year of Lockdowns, adjusting to working from home, losing jobs, losing loved ones, home schooling, staying away from family and friends, travel plans dashed.  It’s affected us all differently – but one thing for sure is that none of us have escaped being impacted in some way or other.  During the Christmas break it could be a great time to disconnect, recharge the batteries and take time out for yourself.Hopefully the following tips will help; - Properly disconnect, switch off devices unless they’re really necessary. - Take a walk, without the phone.- Only send crucial messages or emails to your staff or work colleagues.- Wrap yourself in a warm blanket and read a book.- Bake cookies.- Que the music – line up all your favourites.- Play a board game.- Put on your favourite Christmas Movie.- Breath - try the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tybOi4hjZFQ&amp;list=PLIv3RMSL1EWaTO17ptnaWdcooou4rfrgz&amp;ab_channel=WimHof" target="_blank">Wim Hof method</a> – for breathing exercises.- Get in the sea/lake or take a cold shower to reset the mind.- Develop a night routine before bed - 1 hour before bedtime no screens (TV, phone), stretch, meditate, read fiction (hardback). - To also help with sleep, cut out caffeine for a couple of days and see can you notice a difference.Whatever you decide to do, have a wonderful break this Christmas, keep the spirits up and hopefully 2021 will be kinder to us all.<ul> </ul>Mind yourself, Love from the JobAlert.ie Team

Tips on how you can be kind to yourself over Christmas & New Year

This article is the second of a series of four articles titled ‘An unconventional approach to your next job’ dropping each week for the rest of December. “What do you do?” We’ve all heard and asked this question too many times than we’d like to remember. Some might say it’s a way to get a sense of who somebody is, what they’re about. It helps in continuing the conversation when we meet new people in the hopes that what they do is somehow fundamental to who they are. While our work can be the source of great meaning and purpose in our lives, we are not our job. We are not the amount of hours we clock in, the money we’re paid or even the things we get paid for. We as individuals and our lives are not defined by how we happen to make a living. A job also doesn’t need to provide us with all we want out of life. If we are to wait around until we find the perfect job that ticks all of our boxes, we might sooner end up in a box before we find what we’re looking for. We are not saying that a job isn’t important. Of course it is. But as most of us during this last year are beginning to realize, there is much more to life than what we get paid for. So instead of asking “what do you do?”, we might ask “what do you create?”. If you find yourself or the other person giving you a knee-jerk bullshit response, in some form of “I’m not creative”, it is your responsibility to rid them of this self-limiting belief immediately. Creating or being creative is not limited to the traditional art forms and whether you are a professional at it or not. Creativity is by definition, as wide and varied as you can imagine. Some people might create delicious homemade bread, others create a loving home for their family, others still might create comedy sketches. The point is we don’t all need to become ‘professional’ for us to experience the value in the act of creating. Of course, being paid a living for these passions can be a bonus, but monetary payment doesn’t need to be the standard from which we measure the value of creating itself. It&#x27;s important to remember the great satisfaction we can get out of other areas of our lives independent from our jobs. So if we let go of the idea that our job needs to tick all of the boxes, how else are we to decide which position is right for us? There are no universally correct answers to this question. This requires an honest look at the totality of our own current life which includes our relationships, our hobbies and passions, our health and our job. In this way we can assess which boxes are or can be ticked by different aspects of our lives. This then takes the pressure off on how much a job needs to provide for us to be satisfied. For example, perhaps we’re a football coach in our local town. This will probably provide us with plenty of meaning and social value. If we already get these benefits from a hobby like coaching, we may not need to get it from our job. Instead we can really narrow down on what is currently lacking in our lives and decide upon our next job by considering which one would best provide what we want. While at the same time letting go of the imaginary notion of a perfect job which allows us to get on with the less desirable aspects and focus on the positive ones. You might have got to the end of this article now without the sense of completion inside that usually comes from finding an answer or next course of action. It might be worth repeating, we&#x27;re not giving you any answers because we trust you can do that for yourself.

You are not your job - An unconventional approach to your next job

This article is the first of a series of four articles titled ‘An unconventional approach to your next job’ dropping each week for the rest of December. What if someone was to tell you that you’ve spent enough hours racking your brain over what your life long career should be. What if we were to tell you that life long careers are complete nonsense. A rare case. You’ve better odds of winning the Irish lotto than you do of finding and keeping the same job for your entire life. Unless you get lucky and die on your first job that is. This type of thinking is a couple of generations old. In fact it isn’t even yours, so why think it? This thinking belongs to your Grandparents who grew up in a different world where resources were scarce and manifestation slow. Things happen at a much faster rate these days, companies come and go, people outgrow their jobs, have different careers at different points in their lives or change industries multiple times. So the next logical question is, where does this leave us? Or more importantly, what are the alternatives? One alternative is to think instead in terms of life stages or phases. The benefits of thinking in terms of your next project, life stage or phase is that it breaks things down into nice, easily digestible chunks. Rather than asking yourself the question ‘What do I want to do with my life’, we instead ask something like ‘What would I like to do with the next couple years of my life’ Or ‘How do I envision my dream life going 3 years from now?’ or ‘What project would I like to take on for the next six months?’ Now that’s more digestible than a three in one on a Saturday after a well earned night on the town. Can you already sense how much better these questions feel when asked? Immediately the pressure is off. We’re not talking Mount Everest, we&#x27;re talking about a tough but doable hike up the Sugar Loaf. And who knows, maybe we can get enough Sugar Loaf’s under our belt, and Everest will be within our reach. This all sounds very reasonable, you might say. But what does it actually mean? It’s up to you to decide what that could mean. We’re not here to give you all the answers. Instead our aim is to provide new questions and perspectives you may not have considered yet so that you can breathe some fresh life into your job search. The bottom line is, if you are reading this in between jobs at the moment, then you have a massive opportunity on your hands. An opportunity to reinvent yourself for the next stage of your life in whatever way you like. You may be struggling financially but you are most definitely time rich. This resource that you have in abundance can be used to get clear about how you see your next life phase. Some people like journaling, others like talking to friends to brainstorm about ideas, others again prefer to think in nature. Your preferred tool is irrevelant, your objective is everything. What will I aim at for the next six months, one, three or five years. We all know how easy it is to get stuck in a boring habit of checking any and all jobs, while we slowly lower our standards as the time we’re between jobs lengthens. It’s for this very reason it’s so important to remember the gift of freedom we have to even consider these sort of questions. If you’ve gotten this far and have realized the opportunity that lies ahead of you, there’s only one question left, what are you going to do next?

Forget the question ‘What will I do with my life’

If you&#x27;re working remotely, you may be able to claim tax relief on the additional costs of working from home, including electricity, heat and broadband.<a href="https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/money_and_tax/tax/income_tax_credits_and_reliefs/eworking_and_tax_relief.html" target="_blank">Citizens Information</a> have detailed exactly how to go about claiming a tax relief at the end of the year. Here is everything you need to know;How much can I claim?You may have extra costs when you are working from home including heating, electricity and broadband costs. Your employer can pay you a contribution towards these costs or you can make a claim for tax relief at the end of the year.If your employer pays you an allowance towards these expenses, you can get up to €3.20 per day without paying any tax, PRSI or USC on it. If your employer pays more than €3.20 per day to cover expenses, you pay tax, PRSI and USC as normal on the amount above €3.20. You should note that employers are not legally obliged to make this payment to their employees.If your employer does not pay you an allowance for your expenses, you can make a claim for tax relief at the end of the year. You will get money back from the taxes you paid.Your refund of tax is based on:- How many days you worked from home- The cost of the expenses- Revenue’s agreed rate for calculating the cost of running a home officeRevenue’s rate for the cost of running a home office is 10% of the cost of electricity and heating. This means that you can claim 10% of the total amount of allowable utility bills against your taxes. You can also claim 30% of broadband costs for the tax year 2020. This applies for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.You can only claim for the days that you work from home. This does not include times you may have brought work home to do outside your normal working hours.If your employer pays you an allowance towards your expenses, the amount paid is deducted from the amount you can claim back from Revenue.ExampleMary works from home for 6 months while her office is closed due to the COVID-19 emergency. During that 6 months her household bills for heating and electricity come to €1000 and her broadband comes to €300. At the end of the year she can claim tax back on expenses of:- €100 for heating and electricity (10% of €1000)- €90 for broadband (30% of €300)- €190 in totalThe amount she gets back depends on her rate of tax. If she pays tax at the higher tax rate of 40% she will get €76 back from her taxes (40% of €190). If she pays tax at the lower rate of 20%, she will receive €38 back (20% of €190).How to applyYou can claim tax relief online using Revenue’s myAccount service. You can also access the <a href="https://www.ros.ie/myaccount-web/home.html" target="_blank">myAccount service</a> on mobile and tablet devices using Revenue’s <a href="https://www.revenue.ie/en/online-services/support/mobile-and-desktop-applications/revapp.aspx" target="_blank">RevApp.</a>To complete an Income Tax return online use the following steps:1. Sign in to <a href="https://www.ros.ie/myaccount-web/sign_in.html?execution=e2s1&amp;lang=en" target="_blank">myAccount</a>2. Click on ‘Review your tax’ link in PAYE Services3. Select the Income Tax return for the relevant tax year4. Select ‘Other PAYE Expenses’ in the ‘Tax Credits and Reliefs’ page and insert the amount of expense at the ‘Amount Claimed’ sectionYou must be able to account for each expense you intend to claim. This means keeping a record of all receipts and bills. You should keep all documentation relating to your claim for 6 years from the end of the tax year to which the claim relates.You may also need a letter from your employer stating that you work from home.More information can also be found <a href="https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/money_and_tax/tax/income_tax_credits_and_reliefs/eworking_and_tax_relief.html" target="_blank">here.</a>Take care and best wishes fromThe JobAlert.ie Team

How To Claim Work From Home Expenses

<h2>New Rent Supplement rules apply and will be in place until 31 March 2021</h2>Legislation was introduced to prevent both the termination of residential tenancies and any rent increases for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.While tenants are expected to pay rent during the COVID-19 pandemic, Rent Supplement is available to you if you are struggling to pay.You can qualify for Rent Supplement if you or your partner are working more than 30 hours per week and you have had a reduction in your income from work due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.You must have been in your current tenancy for more than 4 weeks and could have continued to paid your rent from your own resources, but for the COVID-19 public health emergency.If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 or are suspected of having COVID-19 and are medically required to self-isolate, your Rent Supplement can be processed and paid immediately.You will be assessed for Rent Supplement using a higher Supplementary Welfare Allowance rate – see below.If your Rent Supplement continues after 31 March 2021, it will be reviewed and the existing Rent Supplement rules, guidelines and means assessment will apply.<h3>Supplementary Welfare Allowance rate for Rent Supplement and COVID-19</h3>Rent Supplement ensures that your income, after paying rent, does not fall below a minimum level. This minimum level is the basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance rate for your circumstances minus a set Household Contribution (you may pay more depending on your means).The basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance rate is normally €201 – you will get a higher rate if you have dependents. However, if you are a new Rent Supplement applicant and applied on or after 13 March 2020, you will be assessed for Rent Supplement using the following Supplementary Welfare Allowance rates:€350 for a single person€700 for a couple€40 for each childIf your employment (or self-employment) has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, or if you are sick or caring for someone who is sick, read our document on COVID-19 (coronavirus) and social welfare payments. Rule that applies;For applicants who apply on or after 13 March 2020, you must have been in your current tenancy for more than 4 weeks and could have continued to paid your rent from your own resources, but for the COVID-19 public health emergency.<h3>Employment and Rent Supplement</h3>For applicants who apply on or after 13 March 2020, you can qualify for Rent Supplement if you or your partner are working more than 30 hours per week and you have had a reduction in your income from work due to the COVID-19 public health emergency – see COVID-19 and Rent Supplement above.You will be reassessed for Rent Supplement and some of your additional income including some of your income from employment will be taken into account. As a result of the reassessment you may or may not continue to qualify for Rent Supplement. If you do qualify for Rent Supplement you may get a different rate of Supplement.If you start work (employment or self-employment), you must notify the Department of Social Protection (DSP) to avoid any overpayment of Rent Supplement.More information is available <a href="https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/supplementary_welfare_schemes/rent_supplement.html#lb623b" target="_blank">HERE</a>

Struggling to pay rent? Rent supplements are available with new rules!

Remember you are not alone. Help is out there. There are so many organisations offering online, phone and text support services: Samaritans 24 hour helpline: Call 116 123 / Email: jo@samaritans.ie Aware: 1800 804 848 Pieta House: 1800 247 247 Jigsaw: Call 1800 544729 / E-mail help@jigsaw.ie / Visit: https://jigsaw.ie/talk-online/ Free counselling sessions: http://mymind.org (for any age) &amp; http://jigsaw.ie (12-25 year olds) HSE mental health phone line: 1800 111 888 Childline: 1800 666 666 or Free Text the word ‘Talk’ to 50101 ALONE: 0818 222 024 Crisis Volunteers: Free Text 50808 Rape Crisis: 1800 778 888 Women&#x27;s Aid: 1800 341 900 Take care everyone.

Help is there if you need it | Don't suffer in silence

SUMMARY;<ul><li>The Wage Subsidy Scheme will be enhanced. There will be five bands now instead of two which will pay employers more to keep staff on.</li><li>Changes to the pandemic unemployment payment will see the €350 rate return for workers who were earning more than €400. </li><li>The Government have promised additional business supports.</li><li>Only essential businesses can remain open.  Construction sites, schools and creches can stay open.</li><li>Under level five, people will be asked to stay and work at home wherever possible, and to exercise within 5km of their home.</li><li>A graduated system of penalties is being examined to enforce the travel restrictions.</li><li>Weddings will also be allowed remain at 25 guests.</li><li>A &#x27;support bubble&#x27; system is being set up, allowing people who live alone to have close contact with one other household.</li><li>Elite sport including inter-county GAA will be allowed to continue as well as League of Ireland and the Six Nations.</li></ul>Official Government AnnouncementThe government has decided today that, as of midnight on Wednesday 21st October, all of Ireland will be placed on Level 5 of the Plan for Living with COVID with a small number of exceptions as set out below.This action is based on current public health advice, the deteriorating situation with the disease across the country and the Government’s objectives to support families by keeping schools and childcare facilities open, maintaining non-COVID health services and protecting the vulnerable.Level 5 restrictions will remain in place for a period of 6 weeks.Given the difficulties that these restrictions place on individuals and families across the State, the risk of job losses and of poverty and homelessness, the Government has agreed that the moratorium on evictions be reinstated and that Pandemic Unemployment Payment and the Employee Wage Subsidy Scheme be amended to reflect these challenges.Placing the country at Level 5 Restrictions will have the following implications:<ul><li>people are asked to stay at home. People should work from home unless providing an essential service for which their physical presence is required (see below for essential services)</li><li>people will be permitted to exercise within a radius of 5 km of their home</li><li>there will be a penalty for movement outside 5km of home, with exemptions to this for essential work and essential purposes (see notes to editors)</li><li>in line with current NPHET advice in respect of Level 5, schools, early learning and childcare services will continue to remain open and are deemed essential</li><li>in addition, in recognition of the impact on children and young people of restrictions, non-contact training can continue for school aged children, outdoors in pods of 15. All other training activities should be individual only, with some exemptions, see below</li><li>there should be no visits to other people’s homes or gardens</li><li>however, there will be the concept of an extended household (or support bubble) for defined categories of individuals to support those at risk of social isolation and/or mental ill-health (see notes to editors).</li><li>no social/family gatherings should take place, with the exemptions to this for weddings and funerals (see below).</li></ul>It is possible to meet with one other household in an outdoor setting which is not a home or garden, such as a park, including for exercise<ul><li>there should be no organised indoor or outdoor events.</li><li>essential retail and essential services will remain open (see below).</li><li>public transport will operate at 25% capacity for the purposes of allowing those providing essential services to get to work [School transport unaffected].</li><li>in line with current NPHET advice in respect of Level 5, professional, elite sports and inter-county Gaelic games, horse-racing and greyhound racing can continue behind closed doors.</li><li>bars, cafes, restaurants and wet pubs may provide take-away and delivery services only. Wet pubs in *hotels, guesthouses and B&amp;Bs may remain open, but only to support provision of essential services.</li><li>those aged over 70 and the medically vulnerable are advised to continue to exercise personal judgement. It is recommended that they stay at home as much as possible, limit engagement to a very small network for short periods of time, while remaining physically distanced. When taking exercise outdoors, it is important to maintain 2 metres distance from others and wash hands on returning home. It is recommended to shop during designated hours only, while wearing a face covering, and to avoid public transport.</li><li>religious services will be available online</li><li>museums, galleries and other cultural attractions will remain closed</li><li>libraries will be available for online services only.</li><li>outdoor playgrounds, play areas and parks will remain open with protective measures.</li><li>visits to Long Term Residential Care facilities are suspended with the exception of visits required for critical and compassionate circumstances</li></ul><h3>Essential purposes for travel (permitted outside 5k limit)</h3><ul><li>travel to and from work, where work involves providing an essential service (see below)</li><li>to attend medical appointments and collect medicines and other health products</li><li>for vital family reasons, such as providing care to children, elderly or vulnerable people, and in particular for those who live alone, as part of an extended household but excluding social family visits</li><li>to attend a wedding or funeral</li><li>for farming purposes i.e. food production and/or care of animals</li><li>to visit a grave</li></ul>ADDITIONAL NOTES;Exemptions for weddings (irrespective of venue):** Up to 25 guests for wedding ceremony and reception.Exemption for funerals: Up to 10 mourners.<h3>Sports/Training/Matches</h3>No training or matches should take place, with the exception of professional, elite sports and inter-county Gaelic games, horse-racing and greyhound racing, which are being permitted to continue behind closed doors.<h3>Extended Household Concept</h3>In order to support those who risk isolation, such as single adult households and those who have shared parenting or shared custody arrangements; those living alone who have mental health challenges, or those living with partner with dementia for example, it will be possible for those in such circumstances to nominate one other household with whom they can mix. This will allow for social support beyond the caring exemptions already available.<h3>Amendments to PUP and EWSS</h3>We know the move to Level 5 will have a significant impact on businesses – we know many people will temporarily lose their jobs on ThursdayAs a result of the fact that businesses have to close we are making changes to the PUP and the EWSSThe new payment structure for the PUP is as follows, with the rate of €350 restored to those who were earning in excess of €400 per week:Prior Weekly Earnings (Gross) less than €200 - PUP Payment €203€200 – €299.99 - PUP Payment €250€300 - €399.99 - PUP Payment €300more than €400 - PUP Payment €350This change to payment rates will apply for payments issued from Tuesday 27th October (PUP is paid weekly on a Tuesday) in respect of all existing and new applicants.The EWSS is also being amended to align with the amendment to PUP. This means here will be 5 payment rates/bands as follows:<ul><li>0 - €151 = €0</li><li>&gt;€151 &lt; €203 = €203</li><li>&gt;€203 &lt; €300 = €250</li><li>&gt;€300 &lt; €400 = €300</li><li>&gt;€400&lt; €1,462 = €350</li></ul>The main aim of this scheme is to ensure where possible employees retain their link with their employer rather than become unemployed. This revised scheme will run to end January 2021.SEE LIST OF ESSENTIAL RETAILERS; <a href="https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/60ecc-essential-retail-outlets-for-level-4/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/essentialretail/" target="_blank">HERE</a>SEE LIST OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES; <a href="https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c9158-essential-services/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/essentialservices/" target="_blank">HERE</a>

Level 5 restrictions come into force midnight Wednesday

<h2>As the Serenity Prayer goes; “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and and wisdom to know the difference.</h2>More helpful words were never written. During times like this, it’s important to focus on what you can control. Right now you’re probably feeling scared, overwhelmed and very unsure of what the future holds for you – believe me this is normal taking into consideration what’s going on all around us and the World in general.I’ve been having bouts of panic myself recently. One minute I’m grand, just working away and I completely forget about what’s going on outside and then the next I’m feeling extremely stressed. But I have to keep reminding myself that if I can’t control what’s going on, I have to stop worrying about it. Of course I’m concerned about the people it’s affecting and if I can give support, I will. If I can’t change it, stressing myself out is only going to have a negative effect on those around me or who I work on line with.Thinking about the intersection of things that both matter and that we can control will really help – this is the place we should be focusing on because that’s where we can make a difference. I’ve come to the realisation that I can’t change the COVID-19 Virus, Government decisions, the economic crisis, currencies, restrictions on travel or things like Brexit. I can however focus on what I can change or control, my own behaviour and how I react – this way of thinking makes me more calm and content. It enables me to reach some goals and gives me some satisfaction.I’ve also limited the amount of news I read or watch, ignoring the noise helps me. To remain focussed on my own work. Mind yourself and try to stay focused yourself, I promise it will help.

In challenging times, it's important to figure out what you can control

To parents and guardians of school children in Ireland,I am very aware that many of you are worried about the reopening of schools and the associated risk of COVID-19 for your children. This concern is natural and is to be fully expected after a period of six months during which we have all had to adapt to the challenges posed by COVID-19.The decision to reopen schools has not been taken lightly and has been based on guidance produced by international bodies including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC); scientific evidence regarding the risk of COVID-19 in school children and staff; the experience of other countries that have not closed, or have reopened, their schools; our own experience having reopened childcare settings and summer camps since June; and evidence regarding the importance of school for the overall health and wellbeing of children.International evidence shows us that child-to-child and child-to-adult transmission of COVID-19 in schools is uncommon. In addition, our own experience to date in Ireland, and indeed that reported internationally, demonstrates that for the overwhelming majority of children who are diagnosed with COVID-19, their symptoms will be mild.The importance of schools for the overall health and wellbeing of children cannot be overstated, and the risk of COVID-19 has been carefully weighed against the very real harm that can be caused by sustained school closures. Schools play a fundamental role in the social life of children; they are where children are educated, make friends, share interests, learn social skills like self-confidence and empathy, and participate in sport and cultural activities.Of course, as we continue to navigate our way through this pandemic, there are no zero risk options for reopening schools or indeed any other environment; the aim, therefore, is to reopen in as safe a way as possible by ensuring that all appropriate public health measures such as physical distancing, hand washing and respiratory hygiene are implemented where appropriate.Schools are at the heart of our communities and the best way to protect them is to keep the level of COVID-19 in the community low. As parents and guardians, you can play a key role in this, both through your own actions and through the influence that you have on your family and friends. If all of us continue to make small changes to the way we live, we can - together - starve this virus of opportunities to transmit.While it is okay to send your child to school or childcare if they only have a runny nose or a sneeze, if you have any concerns that your child has symptoms of COVID-19 - fever, cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell – then please keep them at home until you have spoken with your GP by phone. Lots more information is available at <a href="https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/a128d-back-to-school/" target="_blank">gov.ie/backtoschool</a> and <a href="https://www.hse.ie/eng/" target="_blank">hse.ie</a>.There will be cases of COVID-19 among children over the coming days and weeks, as there have been throughout this pandemic to date. But when this happens our public health teams in the HSE will respond and liaise closely with the school involved and ensure that all necessary measures are taken to protect other students and school staff.Finally, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for all you have done to keep your family and our communities safe over the past seven months. I also want to thank all teachers, principals and school staff who have worked so hard to ensure that our schools are ready to reopen – it is just one more example of the incredible solidarity that has defined the way in which people all across the country have come together to play their part in getting us through this pandemic.Dr. Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health.

Gov.ie - Letter to Parents, Guardians of School Children and School Staff

Notice for 3rd Level Students:A number of weeks ago, the Government provided €15 million to purchase laptops and ipads to help with remote learning and to bridge the digital divide.The Department of Higher Education has ordered almost 17,000 Dell laptops which will now be distributed across our universities, our Institutes of Technology, our ETB’s and a number of Solas funded colleges also.Anyone who needs a laptop and feels they fall into the criteria of disadvantaged student should apply to their college to the Student Services office and they will process your application.

Students to get laptops as part of €168m Covid-19 college fund

UPDATE;The Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe TD has asked the Revenue Commissioners to reinstate Proprietary Directors to the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) from 1 September where they meet the objective of the scheme of retaining ordinary employees on payroll.“Over the past 48 hours he said; &quot;I have listened to the concerns of certain Proprietary Directors in relation to provisions of the EWSS. These Proprietary Directors have been using the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) to retain “ordinary” employees in their business over recent months and they would wish to continue to do so under the new EWSS.Having considered the points raised with me, I have decided to ask the Revenue Commissioners to reinstate Proprietary Directors to the EWSS from 1 September where they are retaining &quot;ordinary&quot; employees on their payroll. Minister Donohoe has also asked his department to review the provision with the Revenue Commissioners during August consistent with achieving the above objective while also protecting the integrity of the EWSS.Guidance will issue from the Revenue Commissioners in good time for the commencement of the scheme on 1 September.Any legislative amendments will be included in the Finance Bill later in the year.https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/50a6d-minister-donohoe-reinstates-proprietary-directors-to-the-employment-wage-subsidy-scheme/PREVIOUSLYIn an open Letter to the Government from a self-employed couple, running a café following the Governments previous decision to cut directors / owners from the Wage Subsidy Scheme, fears grew for small businesses Nationwide.&quot; It read; “Having slipped this announcement into a paragraph in the law, the Government are slipping away on holidays, for six weeks, in the height of a pandemic, as the economy slips into an abyss.I’m tired of fighting, tired of being taken for granted and tired of paying the salaries of those who put themselves ahead of the citizens of Ireland.Those who had the courage to open a business in Ireland are #InItTogether, but it’s not the same place as our “leaders”.You have given us two choices. Close our business permanently and claim the dole or close our business for 12 months and minimise our losses to just the annual rent and claim the dole.We still make the coffee and cook the food, but because we own our business, the Government are saying that they will not subsidise our wages” “in a loss making business”, “To do so would be illegal under Company law.”PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION TO MAKE A CHANGE <a href="https://www.change.org/p/heather-humphreys-td-undo-decision-to-cut-directors-and-owners-from-the-wage-subsidy-scheme-to-save-businesses?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_23818486_en-GB%3A6&amp;recruiter=767983555&amp;utm_source=share_petition&amp;utm_medium=copylink&amp;utm_campaign=share_petition" target="_blank">HERE</a>Read their full letter <a href="https://idahocafe.tumblr.com/post/625099536724000768/an-open-letter-to-paschal-donohoe-and-the-irish?fbclid=IwAR3hmoJX9dBcmAOQhXmiHyPZu2gM5qR6NfvwFKxnNUliivKNmiv7zPW9BL4" target="_blank">here.</a>Here&#x27;s more Information about the details in the July Stimulus PackageAs part of the July Stimulus package released on 23 July, the government announced the introduction of a NEW Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) which will apply from July 31st until the end of March 2021. It will run concurrently with the existing Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) until 31 August at which stage the TWSS will cease.The EWSS provides many employers with an important financial lifeline for the next 9 months. The government is setting aside €2.35 billion in employment subsidies under the EWSS which underpins the importance being placed on maintaining current employment levels within the economy. The inclusion of new hires under the scheme will provide welcome support to employers who will look to expand their workforce in the future.Financial Provisions (COVID-19) (No.2) Bill 2020, which was published on 24 July, provides the legislative footing for this new wage support scheme and sets out various details of the scheme, including the employer and employee eligibility criteria; the rates of subsidy payable; and other administrative and operational aspects.How are employers and employees eligible for the new EWSS?Employer EligibilityTo be eligible to participate in the EWSS, the employer must be able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Revenue that, they their business have been significantly disrupted by reason of COVID-19. Specifically the employer needs to demonstrate at least a 30% decline (or such other percentage as the Minister for Finance may specify) in either the turnover of the employer’s business or in customer orders received during the period 1 July 2020 to 31 December 2020, as compared to the same period in 2019.In cases where the business of the employee has not operated for the whole of the corresponding period in 2019, the following will apply:Where the business operations have commenced on or before 1 November 2019, the 30% decline test must be determined in 2020 by reference to the same reference period last year in which the business was in operation. For example, if the employer’s business commenced on 1 September 2019, then a 30% decline in the period 1 September 2020-31 December 2020 must arise as compared to 1 September 2019-31 December 2019.Where the business operations have commenced after 1 November 2019, the employer must be able to show that the turnover or customer orders during the period 1 July to 31 December 2020 will be at least 30% less than what the turnover or customer orders would have been had there been no disruption caused by COVID-19.While the introduction of a further wage support scheme is welcomed, the reference period for eligibility of 1 July to 31 December 2020 is likely to be a disappointing condition for many employers who may have suffered significantly as a result of COVID-19 in the first half of 2020 and are now expected to need a further 30% decline in the second half of the year in order to avail of any government wage supports from 1 September. Helpfully, under the new EWSS, there is no requirement for the employer to have to demonstrate an inability to pay wages which caused significant confusion and uncertainty amongst employers under the TWSS.The Bill provides that Revenue will publish guidelines to assist employers in determining whether the reduction in turnover/customer orders will occur by reason of COVID-19 and the disruption that COVID-19 is causing to business.Any employer who is entered in the register established and maintained under the Child Care Act 1991 will be considered eligible for the scheme without having to satisfy the reduction in turnover or customer order tests. This would include pre-schools, play groups, creches and other services catering for pre-school children in addition to creches etc that cater for primary school children. In order to be eligible for the EWSS throughout the entire period, the employer must be entitled to a tax clearance certificate.The Bill requires employers to review their eligibility criteria at the end of each month for July to March 2021. If as a result of the review, it transpires that the employer does not meet the eligibility criteria they should withdraw themselves from the scheme on ROS with effect from the first day of the following month. Eligible EmployeesAny employee who was considered an eligible employee under the existing TWSS provisions will also be considered an eligible employee for the EWSS.The new EWSS extends the definition of eligible employee to now include an individual who is on the payroll of the employer at any time in the “qualifying period” i.e. at any time between 1 July 2020 and 31 March 2021. This does however exclude an individual who is a proprietary director of the company and someone who is connected with the employer (unless such connected person was on the payroll of the employer between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020 and received pay from the employer during that time).Previously, with a small number of limited exceptions, an employee was only considered eligible for the TWSS where they were included on the employer payroll on 29 February 2020.The extension of the EWSS to seasonal workers and new hires is a very welcome development, particularly to those sectors such as hospitality or other seasonal businesses who perhaps were closed in February 2020 or operating at a reduced capacity.  Rates of subsidy payableUnder the EWSS, eligible employers will receive a per-head subsidy on a flat rate basis which will be determined based on the amount of gross pay that the employer pays to the eligible employee as follows:Gross Pay Subsidy Payable&lt;€151.50, €0€151.50 - €202.99 €151.50 per week€203 - €1,462 €203 per week&gt;€1,462 €0The rates payable under the new EWSS have been simplified considerably compared to the rates payable currently under the TWSS. Under the existing TWSS, those employees with gross pay in excess of €960 per week are not eligible for the subsidy. This upper gross pay limit has been increased to €1,462 under the new scheme. However, a lower gross pay limit of €151.50 is now provided for which doesn’t exist under the TWSS. Operational aspects of the EWSSi) Registration for the EWSSThe employer will be required to register for the EWSS in the same way as it would have done for the TWSS. In other words, for those employers who are looking to enter the EWSS, they will be required to login ROS and register by way of declaring that the eligibility criteria are met.  ii) Claiming the EWSSWhile the existing TWSS is considered a payment to the employee (albeit it is administered by the employer), under the new EWSS, the subsidy to be paid to the employer is now more akin to an employment support grant. Under the new scheme, the employer will pay the employee their normal wages and will then receive a subsidy from the Revenue in respect of each eligible employee following submission of the payroll return based on the table set out above.The subsidy will be paid by Revenue to the employer via a bank transfer (as is the case now) within a few days after the employer submitting their payroll return to Revenue for the relevant pay period.  iii) Tax and PRSI positionWhile the Bill is silent on the tax treatment of the subsidy payments, it does provide that employers will be required to operate PRSI on all gross payments to be made to their employees having regard to guidelines to be published by the Revenue.Revenue has confirmed that all gross payments made to employees under the EWSS should be fully liable to PAYE, USC and employee PRSI in the normal way.However, employer PRSI at the reduced rate of 0.5% will apply for employments that are eligible for the subsidy.iv) Interaction with existing TWSSWhere an employer is entitled to receive a subsidy for an employee under the existing TWSS during July and August 2020, the employer shall not also be entitled to claim a subsidy under the EWSS in respect of the same employee. Revenue has confirmed that from 31 July, employers currently availing of the existing TWSS can claim the new EWSS in respect of new hires.From 31 July 2020, those employers who have not previously availed of the TWSS, will only be eligible to apply for the new EWSS (assuming the various eligibility criteria are met).v) PublicationAs was the case for the TWSS, the names and addresses of all employers who receive a wage subsidy payment under the new EWSS will be published on revenue.ie. vi) Anti-avoidanceThe Bill includes a specific anti-avoidance provision which seeks to counteract contrived situations whereby any gross pay due to an employee is deferred, suspended, increased or decreased with a view to securing the wage subsidy or situations where an employee is laid off and removed from the payroll and replaced with two or more employees in relation for whom the subsidy would be available. If Revenue identify any such cases, the employer will be treated as having never been eligible for the scheme and any subsidy payments received would need to be refunded, together with possible interest and penalties.Source; KMPGNEW UPDATES WILL FOLLOW

UPDATE: Directors and Owners back on Wage Subsidy Scheme

As the Government today launched the €7.4 billion Jobs Stimulus to help businesses re-open, get people back to work and promote confidence, here’s just a few of the highlights and details<ul><li>A new Employment Wage Support Scheme will succeed the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme, and run until April 2021. Employers, whose turnover has fallen 30%, will receive a flat rate subsidy of up to €203 per week per employee including for seasonal staff and new employees. New firms operating in impacted sectors will also be eligible. The Scheme is expected to support around 350,000 jobs into the beginning of 2021.</li></ul><ul><li>Vat Rate to be cut from 23% to 21% - effective beginning September</li></ul><ul><li>There will be a new income tax relief for self-employed individuals who were profitable in 2019 but, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, incur losses in 2020.</li></ul><ul><li>Subsidies of up to €7500 over two years will be available for employers to hire someone under the age of 30 who is on the Live Register or the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.</li></ul><ul><li>The Apprentice Incentivisation Scheme will provide a €2000 payment to support employers to take on new apprenticeships in 2020.</li></ul><ul><li>The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance and Back to Education Allowance will be extended to people currently in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.</li></ul><ul><li>The Restart Grant for Enterprises is being extended to a broader base of SMEs and expanded by €300 million. The payment level is being increased to €25,000. Further payments may be available to firms which have already received them. Some businesses, such as B&amp;Bs, not previously included in the scheme, will now be eligible.</li></ul><ul><li>A package of liquidity and enterprise investment measures worth €55 million will be put in place to support small and micro companies through additional resources for MicroFinance Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices. This will include measures to reduce interest rates on lending for micro and small businesses, including grants equivalent to 0% interest on the first year of SBCI and MFI loans.</li></ul><ul><li>Waiver of commercial rates - With limited exceptions, all businesses will be granted a waiver of commercial rates for the six months to end-September 2020, at a total cost of €600 million.</li></ul><ul><li>Additional resources for MicroFinance Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices - </li>A package of liquidity and enterprise investment measures worth €55 million will be put in place to support small and micro companies through additional resources for MicroFinance Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices.This will include measures to reduce interest rates on lending for micro and small businesses, including grants equivalent to 0% interest on the first year of SBCI and MFI loans.</ul><ul><li>An increased allowable expenditure under the “Cycle to Work” scheme from €1000 to €1500 in respect of ‘ebikes’ and €1250 in respect of other bicycles will be introduced.</li></ul><ul><li>35,000 additional places in further and higher education. These will be delivered through a variety of measures including Skills to Compete Initiative (SOLAS), Skillnet, Springboard+ and the Human Capital Initiative, as well as through additional undergraduate and postgraduate provision in the Higher Educational Institutions.</li></ul><ul><li>A Retrofit Skills Training Initiative will support future expansion of the National Retrofitting Programme.</li></ul><ul><li>The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance and Back to Education Allowance will be extended to people currently in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment</li></ul><ul><li>The Pandemic Unemployment Payment, due to end in August 2020, is being extended by 7 months until 1 April 2021, giving those on emergency income support greater security as the country recovers and job opportunities return. Between now and April, there will be a gradual reduction in payment level, linked to previous incomes, bringing payments in line with existing social welfare levels over time.</li>The scheme will close to new claimants from Thursday 17 September 2020.</ul>Read the full details of the July Stimulus and get access to the full press release here;<a href="https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/5654a-july-jobs-stimulus/" target="_blank">https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/5654a-july-jobs-stimulus/</a>

Covid 19