The Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme has cost the state over €2 billion so far in wage suppports for businesses affected by the pandemic.
This is according to the latest statistics published by Revenue. Since the EWSS was launched in September to replace the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme, the Government has disbursed €1.744 billion in wage subsidies for 505,600 employees, with a further €303m in PRSI foregone due to the reduced PRSI rate on the payroll supports.
45,900 employers have registered for the EWSS. This figures includes 1,400 "re-registrations", but excludes 2,500 employers who registered and subsequently cancelled their registrations.