Adjusted from 24 March 2020: the Government’s Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) is also to get a major overhaul to correspond with plans to introduce more severe Covid-19 restrictions.

The scheme, which was announced as part of the July Stimulus Package, allows employers and new businesses whose turnover has fallen 30pc due to the coronavirus claim a flat rate subsidy based on the number of their employees.

Under the existing scheme there are two different rates of payment but this will be expanded to four in the revamped EWSS which was designed by Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe.