Mayo councillor calls for wage subsidy extension to save businesses from closure

An elected member of Mayo County Council is calling on the government to extend the wage subsidy scheme until the end of July to give businesses a chance to get back on their feet after this current lockdown is lifted.

Fine Gael Councillor Cyril Burke has tabled a motion on the matter for consideration at next Wednesday's meeting of the Castlebar Municipal District.

He stated: “A lot of businesses, particularly in the hospitality industry, are going to struggle to get off the ground when the current lockdown is over.

“They need the comfort to know that the subsidy will last longer than March as this could be the difference in them reopening or not.

“It is critical that the government announce this immediately before large numbers of small businesses go to the wall as they are hanging on for dear life as it is.

“Many business have suffered large losses with stocks and fixed costs over the last two lockdowns - so this third lockdown has put them in a very precarious position in terms of reopening again.

“A commitment from government on the wage subsidy continuing until July, along with a weaning- off period, could be the difference in sustaining these businesses and holding onto the jobs already created.

“We need our Oireachtas members to apply as much pressure as possible on the government to deliver on this in an effort to save the businesses and the jobs.”