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Minister for Health Simon Harris has announced that student nurses will be paid for the duration of the Covid-19 crisis.
In a statement this evening, the minister said student nurses and midwives will be offered a contract as a Healthcare Assistant and be paid for their work. 
He said this will allow students to complete their placement and continue to complete the course.
Student nurses are being asked to apply online through <a href="https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/news/newsfeatures/covid19-updates/oncall/">HSE.ie/oncall</a>.
The minister said: &quot;This is an offer and not an obligation. But I know so many of our student nurses want to play their role as we navigate our way through these difficult times. 
&quot;Our healthcare professionals have shown immense leadership and I will do everything I can to support them.&quot;
He paid tribute to nurses working in hospitals saying they had shown immense leadership in these difficult times and said we need all hands on deck. Source: <a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2020/0326/1126621-student-nurses/">RTE</a>

Student nurses to be paid for duration of Covid-19 pandemic

Published: 26 March 2020From: Department of Education and SkillsGovernment has today (Thursday 26 March 2020) issued schools with updated guidance to help them operate the School Meals Programme amid the extended COVID-19 restrictions.This will ensure that nutritious food gets to many thousands of young people who need it the most.All schools are closed until 19 April at the earliest as part of further restrictions to limit the spread of infection.The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs devised updated guidelines for the 1,580 schools and organisations in the programme as they set out to source and supply meals during the extended closures.Schools are allowed to maintain the service during the Easter holidays and are asked to consider providing weekly boxes of non-perishable, nutritious goods.Tusla Education Support Service will communicate with all Home School Community Liaison Coordinators and School Completion Programmes and ask staff in those services to liaise with principals where they work to ensure that children/families in need of the School Meals Programme are identified and supported.Schools have also been advised that if their current provider is unavailable to continue the service they can look at other options, such as a local charity in the community providing food or meals or sourcing supplies from an alternative provider or retailer.COVID-19: Get all of the latest updates for Employees and Employers <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/blog/covid-19-all-the-latest-updates-for-employees-and-employers">here.</a>

Schools to provide weekly boxes of nutritious food for 250,000 pupils

<h1></h1><h2>Minister Katherine Zappone announces measures to support Childcare Providers and Parents during COVID-19 closures</h2>Published: 25 March 2020From: Department of Children and Youth AffairsFollowing the announcement yesterday of sustainability measures in response to COVID-19 by the government, Minister Katherine Zappone has provided further details to support the Childcare sector.Outlining these measures, Minister Zappone said:“These measures will:<ul><li>help to ensure that the Childcare Sector is in a position to reopen after COVID-19</li><li>provide parents with a reassurance that they are not required to pay childcare fees during this COVID-19 crisis, while providing them with reassurance that they will maintain their childcare places</li><li>give Early Learning and Care Educators security</li><li>retain vital Early Learning and Care Educators in the sector.”</li></ul>The measures are as follows:<ul><li>Revenue will reimburse childcare employers by 70% of their pre COVID-19 staff costs</li><li>in addition, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs will reimburse childcare employers by 30% of their pre COVID-19 staff costs</li><li>the Department of Children and Youth Affairs will pay a retention top-up designed to retain staff in the sector</li><li>the Department of Children and Youth Affairs will fund Childcare Providers with a proportion of staff costs during the closure period to assist with their ongoing costs where needed</li></ul>These emergency measures will apply for up to 12 weeks in line with the government’s announcement yesterday and reflect the unique challenges and demands facing the sector.They involve the re-purposing of funds already allocated to support the childcare sector.Childcare Providers will be required to sign a new COVID-19 Emergency Agreement.This will require providers to agree to a number of conditions that will include:<ul><li>not charging parents for childcare fees from this month onwards</li><li>assure parents that their children’s places are as secure as they can be post COVID-19</li><li>agree to ensure staff are paid at pre COVID-19 levels, with the benefit of the funding from Revenue and DCYA</li><li>take active steps to reinstate their staff that have already been laid off on the same terms as above (with staff reinstated on pre COVID-19 terms and conditions)</li><li>staff would use this time for Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and other professional activities. Employers will use this time to catch up on administrative tasks and familiarise themselves further with the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and any other resources, including new resources which will be developed in the coming weeks</li><li>give consent to Revenue to provide evidence of staff costs to allow the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to process payments to providers</li></ul>State income is already in place for Childcare Providers until the end of this week.The Minister stressed that these are emergency measures that will apply for up to 12 weeks, in accordance with the government’s decisions in this area.The Department of Children and Youth Affairs will roll out these measures as quickly as possible.COVID-19: Get all of the latest updates for Employees and Employers <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/blog/covid-19-all-the-latest-updates-for-employees-and-employers">here.</a>

Childcare Workers to be Paid in Full

The government has today announced a National COVID-19 Income Support Scheme.This will provide financial support to Irish workers and companies affected by the crisis.In summary:<ul><li>a <a href="https://www.gov.ie/en/service/578596-covid-19-wage-subsidy/">temporary wage subsidy of 70%</a><a href="https://www.gov.ie/en/service/578596-covid-19-wage-subsidy/"> (More info and apply here from the 26th of March 2020) </a>of take home pay up to a maximum weekly tax free amount of €410 per week to help affected companies keep paying their employees. This is the equivalent of €500 per week before tax</li><li>workers who have lost their jobs due to the crisis will receive an enhanced emergency <a href="https://www.gov.ie/en/service/be74d3-covid-19-pandemic-unemployment-payment/">COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment</a> of €350 per week (an increase from €203)</li><li><a href="https://www.gov.ie/en/service/df55ae-how-to-apply-for-illness-benefit-for-covid-19-absences/">the COVID-19 illness payment </a>will also be increased to €350 per week</li><li>the self-employed will be eligible for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment of €350 directly from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (rather than the Revenue scheme)</li><li>enhanced protections for people facing difficulties with their mortgages, rent or utility bills</li></ul>It follows from a range of supports already in place to help business through the crisis.The government is taking these extraordinary measures to help ordinary Irish citizens and families during this period of great economic and social stress.These measures will be costly – with an initial estimated cost of €3.7 billion over a twelve week period.The government believes these costs are necessary to ensure social solidarity with workers and their families affected by the crisis.<h2>Income Support Scheme</h2>An eligible employer will be supported up to 70% of an employee’s take home income up to a maximum weekly tax free payment of €410 (that is, 70% of take home weekly income of €38,000 per anuum).The scheme will provide support on incomes up to €76,000 or twice average earnings. It will be capped at net €350 for incomes between €38,000 and €76,000.The employer is expected to make best efforts to maintain as close to 100% of normal income as possible for the subsidised period.Revenue will provide further guidance on operation of the scheme.There will be severe penalties for any abuse of the scheme.<h2>Eligibility for the Income Support Scheme</h2>Employers must self-declare to Revenue that they have experienced significant negative economic disruption due to COVID-19, with a minimum of 25% decline in turnover, and an inability to pay normal wages and other outgoings, in accordance with guidance to be issued by Revenue.This scheme is open to impacted employers in all sectors. This recognises the impact that COVID-19 is having across all parts of the economy.The employee must have been on the payroll in February 2020.<h2>Self-employed workers</h2>Self-employed who qualify will be paid the <a href="https://www.gov.ie/en/service/be74d3-covid-19-pandemic-unemployment-payment/">COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment</a> of €350 rather than through the Revenue scheme. They will be eligible on a similar basis as the Revenue scheme for employees.<h2>How to apply</h2>Revenue and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection will provide details to employers today on how to apply.<h2>Eligibility for COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment</h2>People who have already been approved for the<a href="https://www.gov.ie/en/service/be74d3-covid-19-pandemic-unemployment-payment/"> COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment</a> will now get an increased payment of €350 per week (instead of €203) at their next payment date. Anyone else who loses their job due to the COVID-19 crisis can apply to the department for payment at the new rate.The COVID-19 illness payment will also be increased to €350 per week.Further details are available from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.<h2>Duration of the Income Support Scheme</h2>The new Scheme will be in place for twelve weeks.<h2>Cost of the schemes</h2>It is estimated that these new measures will cost approximately €3.7 billion over the 12 week period.<h2>Exchequer affordability</h2>The full economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis is subject to considerable uncertainty but will clearly have a very significant negative impact on the Exchequer.However, these measures are necessary to provide support to workers, their families, and companies at a time of great economic and social stress.The State will be able to fund these measures, but it will generate additional debt which will need to be paid off in the future.Ireland is well placed to increase its borrowing activity in the coming years. This additional borrowing will take place against a backdrop of a strong improvement in Ireland’s debt position in recent years, which has been reflected in a solid trend of lower borrowing costs, strong demand for Irish sovereign debt among international investors over a protracted period and ratings upgrades by each of the major credit rating agencies.Our strategy in recent years of prefunding liabilities means we have already built up strong cash balances. At the end of February, we had €26 billion in cash effectively funding this year’s €19 billion of redemptions.<h2>Measures in place for renters</h2>The government is introducing legislation to prevent both the termination of residential tenancies and any rent increases for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis.The banks have also said they will support buy-to-let bank customers with tenants affected by COVID-19 with an opportunity to seek a payment break of up to 3 months – so they can in turn offer forbearance to their tenants.Rent Supplement is also available as a short-term income support to those in the private rented sector who are experiencing difficulty paying their rent. In view of the difficulties created for many in the private rented sector who have lost significant employment income, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection will use the full flexibility of the scheme to provide the necessary support.<h2>Measures in place for mortgage holders</h2>A series of measures to support people impacted by COVID-19 have been announced by the banking sector.These include:<ul><li>flexible arrangements, including a payment break for mortgages and other loans. Customers affected by COVID-19 must contact their bank to discuss the flexibility available to them, including the possibility of a payment break of up to 3 months. Non-bank mortgage lenders and credit servicing firms have also announced their support for this measure</li><li>support for buy-to-let bank customers with tenants affected by COVID-19 – customers with rental property in which the tenants are adversely impacted by COVID-19 will also be provided with flexibility including with an opportunity to seek a payment break of up to 3 months, which will allow them to exercise due levels of forbearance to their tenants</li><li>payment breaks as a result of COVID-19 will not affect credit records</li></ul><h2>Measures in place for people struggling with utility bills</h2>The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has issued a moratorium on disconnections of domestic customers for non-payment to the gas and electricity suppliers.The suppliers have arrangements in place for any domestic/residential customers in arrears which are overseen by CRU and have a number of emergency provisions to assist Pay As You Go customers.<h2>Supports for business</h2>In addition to the Scheme being announced today, the government has already announced a range of measures including:(i) financial supports, including a €200 million Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland Working Capital scheme; a €200 million Rescue and Restructuring Scheme available through Enterprise Ireland for vulnerable but viable firms; the maximum loan available from Microfinance Ireland has been increased from €25,000 to €50,000 (these loans are now interest free with no repayments for 6 months); Local Enterprise Offices in every county will be providing vouchers from €2,500 up to €10,000; a Finance in Focus grant of €7,200 will be available to Enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta clients.(ii) other supports including a First Responder support service through the Intreo Offices and development agencies, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland in each region to provide tailored supports for affected businesses; the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Short Term Work Support Scheme.(iii) deferral of Business Rates: the government has agreed with local authorities that they should defer rates payments due from the most immediately affected businesses, primarily in the retail, hospitality, leisure and childcare sectors, until the end of May.(iv) Taxation Measures to alleviate short-term difficulties: Revenue has also posted specific advice for businesses experiencing trading difficulties as a result of COVID-19 including information on tax returns, the application of late payment interest, debt enforcement, tax clearance and customs.These are the highlights:<ul><li>interest on late payments is suspended for January/February VAT and both February and March PAYE (Employers) liabilities</li><li>all debt enforcement activity is suspended until further notice</li><li>current tax clearance status will remain in place for all businesses over the coming months</li><li>the Relevant Contract Tax (RCT) rate review scheduled to take place this month (March) is suspended</li><li>critical pharmaceutical products and medicines will be given a Customs ‘green routing’ to facilitate uninterrupted importation and supply</li></ul>(v) Banking and Credit Measures: All the banks have announced that they will offer flexibility to their customers, and they may be able to provide payment holidays or emergency working capital facilities.The main non-bank lenders also confirmed their intention to also support the range of measures announced by the country’s main retail banks which is to be welcomed.A deferral of up to 3-months on loan repayments will be available to many businesses. In addition, the banks are adopting a customer-focussed approach to these businesses with a wide variety of tailored supports including extensions of credit lines, risk guarantees, and trade finance. These supports complement the range of government supports available through the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland.The Central bank has confirmed that it will allow banks to dip into their rainy-day capital reserves to keep lending flowing. It is anticipated that this move could free up considerable additional credit for households and businesses.A small but important change for many businesses is the limit for contactless credit card payments has been raised from €30 to €50.COVID-19: Get all of the latest updates for Employees and Employers <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/blog/covid-19-all-the-latest-updates-for-employees-and-employers">here.</a>

Govt announces National Covid-19 Income Support Scheme

Independent.ie have announced that the Coronavirus Unemployment Payment is set to rise to €350 per week and that the Government are to pay 70pc of retained workers&#39; salaries.This news if officially confirmed later today will ease the pain for a lot of affected workers and business owners across the country.They also mention that in a significant new move the Government will also pay 70pc of employee wages up to €410 per week for businesses who are willing to meet the remainder of their staff’s weekly payment.MORE TO FOLLOW........

COVID-19 Payment set to rise to €350 and Gov to pay 70% of salaries

Medical device manufacturer Medtronic are set to more than double the number of staff in their Galway factory with the creation of 300 new jobs.The new roles are being created to increase the number of ventilators being manufactured to meet the demand being made by the COVID19 outbreak.Ireland is responsible for more than half of the worlds’ ventilator supply and Medtronic is one of the main manufacturers of this device.Jobs being created will be manufacturing based roles and new hires will join the current staff of 250 to increase the number of hours that the factory is running and to expand the capacity.<a href="https://www.manpower.ie/job/231576/production-operators-galway/?fbclid=IwAR2plAxoV5aveqtAao81A8Q_taZ06MxKEME2vmaoHuCt3owkjm5q5qywRzw">APPLY HERE.</a>

Medtronic Create 300 New Jobs in Galway

Minister for Education Joe McHugh has confirmed that schools will not be reopening in the short term.He announced on GalwayBay FM that schools will not be opening on Monday and that more information is expected to be confirmed today or tomorrow regarding extensions of school closures.Regarding state exams, the minister said that he and his department &quot;really want to make those exams happen&quot;.He said they owed it to young people to &quot;see this through and try to have the exams this year&quot;.

Schools will not Re-Open on Monday

Lots of people are asking;What should they do if their place of employment is still open and they have Covid-19 Symptoms?What payment will they receive if they are layed off work or lose their job permanently and how &amp; where do they apply?<h2>ANSWERS;</h2>DO NOT GO TO WORK IF YOU HAVE COVID-19 SYMPTOMSIf you have Covid-19 symptoms you should not attend work, contact your GP and self-isolate for 14 days. Be aware of the symptoms, they include;• a cough - this can be any kind of cough, not just dry• shortness of breath• breathing difficulties• fever (high temperature - 38 degrees Celsius or above) or chillsOther symptoms are fatigue, headaches, sore throat, aches and pains. If you develop symptoms you will need to self-isolate and phone your GP. Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. The GP will assess you over the phone. If they think you need to be tested for coronavirus, they will arrange a test. You can apply for Illness Benefit for COVID-19 absences. The personal rate for this payment is €305, as compared with the normal Illness Benefit rate of €203.It will be paid for a maximum of 2 weeks where a person is self-isolating, but will be paid for the duration of a person&#39;s absence from work if they have been diagnosed with COVID-19 (Coronavirus). We must stress that you cannot visit your doctor. You must contact them by phone. (Source; HSE.ie)Full details and more information available here; <a href="https://www.gov.ie/en/service/df55ae-how-to-apply-for-illness-benefit-for-covid-19-absences/">https://www.gov.ie/en/service/df55ae-how-to-apply-for-illness-benefit-for-covid-19-absences/</a> BUSINESS TEMPORARY CLOSURESIf your place of work has closed for business due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and your employer cannot pay you, you can apply for an emergency COVID-19 Unemployment Payment?The payment is available to all employees and the self-employed Full and Part-Time who have lost employment due to the pandemic. It is also available for Students who were working and lost pay.You will get a payment of €350 per week for up to 6 weeks (as applicable). Minister Regina Doherty has confirmed that they are currently working on revising this payment scheme, so more information will also be available in the coming days.MORE DETAILS &amp; TO APPLY GO HERE; <a href="https://services.mywelfare.ie/en/other-info-pages/covid-19/">https://services.mywelfare.ie/en/other-info-pages/covid-19/</a> PERMANENT BUSINESS CLOSURES &amp; PERMANENT UMEMPLOYMENTIf you are unemployed, as in your company has closed for good or your position has ceased to exist, you will need to apply for and be assessed for Jobseeker’s payment supports. It may also be possible to apply for the Emergency COVID-19 Unemployment Payment in the interim and we recommend you also apply for Unemployment Benefit as soon as possible. You  can apply for a Jobseeker&#39;s Allowance/Benefit on <a href="www.MyWelfare.ie">www.MyWelfare.ie</a>There&#39;s also a wealth of information being constantly updated <a href="https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/covid19_overview.html">HERE</a> on issues such as;<ul><li>Health Information</li><li>Employment and income supports</li><li>Mortgage, loans and rent</li><li>Housing</li><li>Utilities</li><li>Education</li><li>Travel</li><li>Older people</li></ul>STAY SAFE! COVID-19: Get all of the latest updates for Employees and Employers <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/blog/covid-19-all-the-latest-updates-for-employees-and-employers">here.</a>

QUESTIONS RE; SICK LEAVE, TEMP & PERMANENT LAY OFF?

The Irish Government will introduce a significant financial package next week for those who have lost their jobs due to coronavirus-related disruption and others at risk of becoming unemployed, Deputy Prime Minister Simon Coveney said on (today) Sunday 22nd March.Other European countries like Britain and Denmark have moved to pay up to 80% of the wages of staff who have either lost or are at risk of losing income as a result of the pandemic&quot;.&quot;I want to reassure people that the government are going to introduce a significant and supportive economic package in the coming days that will go well beyond what we have announced to date,&quot; Coveney told national broadcaster RTE. &quot;That will treat everybody equally, so in other words we are not going to separate the people who have lost their jobs to date from the people who may lose their jobs next week.We want to do something that provides, if you like, a guaranteed level of income for everybody across the country.&quot;Ireland has so far introduced an emergency 203 euros a week payment for employees and self-employed people who have lost their jobs or had hours cut and the government has said it will refund the same amount to struggling firms who keep staff on. It said 58,000 people had already claimed the payment by Wednesday, just three days after its introduction following the closure of schools, childcare facilities and pubs.A huge number of restaurants and retailers followed suit voluntarily.Ireland is planning to ramp up coronavirus testing to cut a waiting list that stands at 40,000, over three times the number tested this week alone, Health Service Executive (HSE) operations chief Anne O&#39;Connor told a news conference.With 41 test centres due to be in operation from Tuesday, including a naval ship anchored in Dublin&#39;s River Liffey, the HSE plans to conduct 4,500 tests a day from Monday. It is distributing 40,000 test kits around the country and is close to finalising an order from China for 100,000 more.HSE chief executive Paul Reid added that the 50,000 people from all manner of professions who answered a recruitment call issued last week included 5,000 nurses and 1,000 doctors.&quot;This week is a huge week in the history of the healthcare system in Ireland,&quot; Reid said. &quot;We can save lives by our actions this week.COVID-19: Get all of the latest updates for Employees and Employers <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/blog/covid-19-all-the-latest-updates-for-employees-and-employers">here.</a>

Significant Income Support Announcements on the Way

Super Mom
Mom, you&#39;re a wonderful mother,
So gentle, yet so strong.
The many ways you show you care
Always make me feel I belong.
You&#39;re patient when I&#39;m foolish;
You give guidance when I ask;
It seems you can do most anything;
You&#39;re the master of every task.
You&#39;re a dependable source of comfort;
You&#39;re my cushion when I fall.
You help in times of trouble;
You support me whenever I call.
I love you more than you know;
You have my total respect.
If I had my choice of mothers,
You&#39;d be the one I&#39;d select!
By Joanna Fuchs

Happy Mother's Day

<h2>The UK Government is to cover 80 per cent of workers&#39; salaries up to £2,500. Interested in your thoughts. Is this a better solution than the weekly €203 Covid Pandemic Payment?</h2>Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the extraordinary measures today after Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered all pubs and restaurants, cafes and gyms to shut their doors tonight and not reopen.“Employers will be able to contact HMRC for a grant to cover most of the wages for people who are not working but kept on payroll rather than being laid off,” Sunak said.“Up to 80 per cent of wages [will be covered], or up to £2,500 a month. Employers can top up salaries further if they choose to.“That means workers in any part of the UK can retain their job even if their employer cannot afford to retain them.”Any British business, large or small, can apply for a wage bailout if it is struggling from the coronavirus fallout.Sunak said the government will back date the wage bailout to 1 March and keep it open for at least three months.<h2>‘No limit’ on wage bailout fund</h2>The chancellor added he would extend that timescale if necessary, and told businesses there was “no limit” on how much money the government will make available for the scheme.“We have never had a scheme like this in our country before and we are having to build our systems from scratch,” he added.However, HMRC is working to ensure the first grants are available within weeks, Sunak added. Businesses can apply for the relief from Monday.The chancellor repeated his call for firms affected by the UK coronavirus outbreak not to make people redundant in return for the huge wage bailout.“The economic intervention we are announcing today is unprecedented in the history of the British state,” he added. “I know people are worried about losing their jobs and not being able to pay the rent or mortgage about not having enough set by for food and bills.“To all those at home right now anxious bout the days ahead – you will not face this alone. But getting through this will require a collective national effort with a role for everyone to play. It’s on all of us.”Meanwhile, the Prime Minister reiterated his three-month target to flatten the curve of the UK coronavirus outbreak.Yesterday he had appeared to row back on his aim to have sent the virus “packing” by June.“We are going to do it with testing and new medicines and new technology that can see the disease as it’s transmitted,” Johnson said.“We’re going to defeat the disease with a huge national effort to slow the spread by reducing unnecessary social contact,” the PM added.“I know it’s been tough and inconvenient but these actions we are are all taking are taking the strain off the NHS.”It came as UK coronavirus deaths hit 184 and infections rose to 3,297.The NHS is under huge pressure to deal with the UK coronavirus crisis. And this afternoon London’s Northwick Park hospital announced a “critical incident” as it ran out of beds to treat Covid-19 patients.Further cash flow support through the tax system to help businesses pay people and keep them in work deferring next quarter of vat payments – no biz vat payments between now and June. Government defers VAT payments for UK businessesSunak also said he would postpone companies’ VAT payments until June, in business relief worth over £30bn. The chancellor said that was equivalent to 1.5 per cent of GDP.“I know it’s incredibly difficult out there. We in government are doing everything we can to support you. We are deferring over £30bn taxes to the end of the financial year,” he said.It comes after the Bank of England slashed UK interest rates to a historic low of 0.1 per cent yesterday. And it also announced £200bn of quantitative easing in a bid to battle the UK coronavirus outbreak.The government has already pledged £330bn in loans to keep businesses alive as people opt not to go out.Businesses welcome Rishi Sunak’s measuresDame Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI director-general, welcomed the intervention.She said: “This is a landmark package of measures for business, people and jobs. The chancellor’s offer of substantial payroll support, fast access to cash and tax deferral will support the livelihoods of millions. Firms and employees will respond with relief and determination.“It marks the start of the UK’s economic fightback – an unparalleled joint effort by enterprise and government to help our country emerge from this crisis with the minimum possible damage.  An important day for our country.” And Adam Marshall, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce, added: “The chancellor has given businesses desperately needed breathing room at this critical moment.“The deferral of VAT payments keeps money in the pockets of businesses so that they can pay their people and suppliers, and the commitment to cover wages of those unable to work will allow firms to retain jobs if they are forced to reduce their operations.“The government now needs to go foot-to-floor to ensure that details of the job retention scheme and loan guarantees reach firms on the ground as soon as possible. Given that this situation continues to evolve, ministers must also keep the door open to additional measures to support business cash flow.”<h2>What about the self-employed?</h2>But Bectu, a union representing freelancers, criticised Sunak for not including self-employed contractors in his relief.Head of Bectu,Philippa Childs, called it a “devastating blow” for such workers. “These workers are looking to the Chancellor in desperation for a vital lifeline and he has badly let them down,” she added.“It is clear the chancellor simply doesn’t understand the hardship these workers are in- telling them to simply claim universal credit while other workers have their incomes protected is cruel and unfair.” COVID-19: Get all of the latest updates for Employees and Employers <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/blog/covid-19-all-the-latest-updates-for-employees-and-employers">here.</a>

Coronavirus UK Wage Bailout v's the Irish Solution

Tesco Ireland announced today that they will be giving their staff a 10% bonus on their hourly rate of pay, in recognition of their incredible effort during the COVID-19 pandemic.The increase will be backdated to the 9th of March 2020 and will remain in effect right up until the 1st of May 2020. The situation will then be review accordingly.The CEO of Tesco Ireland, Kari Daniels said: “It’s been an unprecedented couple of weeks and despite the enormous challenges, it’s been incredible to see how colleagues have stepped up and responded, doing an outstanding job. &quot;This pay bonus is just one way we are saying thank you to our colleagues and recognising that they are on the front-line, helping to serve Ireland’s shoppers during these uncertain and difficult times.”General Secretary John Douglas said, &quot;This Covid-19 crisis has made one thing abundantly clear to everyone across all our communities in relation to the essential public service carried out by all frontline retail workers in ensuring much needed essential supplies for us all.&quot;The selfless and dedicated work carried out by these workers by keeping stocks replenished on the supermarket shelves and by making sure supermarkets remain open during this crisis deserves to be recognised and rewarded by their employer Tesco.&quot;We now call on all other retailers to follow Tesco&#39;s example and reward their workforce for stepping up to the plate in these worryingly dangerous times.&quot;Mr Douglas added that he believed much more needed to be done by the government to protect jobs and businesses.COVID-19: Get all of the latest updates for Employees and Employers <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/blog/covid-19-all-the-latest-updates-for-employees-and-employers">here.</a>

Tesco give staff 10% bonus for their 'incredible effort' 

RTÉ announced today that they will start broadcasting school on TV to support kids &amp; parents at home. The programme will primarily be aimed at kids in 1st - 6th class.The Department of Education are supporting the new initiative along with RTÉ in order to help primary school children continue their learning from home during the COVID-19 crisis.Start date:The one hour programmes will start from Monday the 30th of March 2020 and they&#39;ll run for 1 hour between 11am - 12pm, Monday to Friday. In addition to the pogramme, there will be a shorter catch up programme that will air in the afternoon time. Teachers will be presenting each lesson from a school classroom. The new programme will be made available on the RTÉ Player. On <a href="https://www.rte.ie/learn/">RTE.ie/learn</a> you will be able to access supporting worksheets and other learning material. -COVID-19: Get all of the latest updates for Employees and Employers <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/blog/covid-19-all-the-latest-updates-for-employees-and-employers">here.</a>

RTÉ to start broadcasting school on TV to support kids & parents at home

Published: 19 March 2020From: Department of Employment Affairs and Social ProtectionMinister Doherty announces two weeks entitlement in a Single Payment and a public awareness campaign for new Pandemic Unemployment PaymentMinister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty, announced today that a single payment to cover two weeks will be made to social welfare customers, beginning next week (Monday, 23 March) as a special response to the COVID-19 pandemic.The single payment giving two weeks of entitlement will be made on some social welfare schemes next week.Customers on the remaining schemes will be paid the two weeks entitlement in a single payment the following week. These payments will be made to customers who collect their payments at post offices and who are paid into a bank account.Minister Doherty explained:“We have to look at every possible measure we can take to promote social distancing. Rather than have recipients attend post offices weekly, we will be paying two weeks’ worth of benefit to cover the weeks of the 23rd March and 30th March to some clients and the weeks of the 30th March and 6th April to others to reduce the frequency of people showing up to collect their entitlements. We will continue to review how we provide our services throughout the current COVID-19 situation.”The Minister also announced that her department has commenced a public awareness campaign to inform people who may be affected by the economic downturn, that the new Pandemic Unemployment Payment is now available, in addition to the range of supports provided by the department, to both employees and the self-employed.A radio campaign will run for a period of two weeks across a range of national, regional and urban stations.Minister Doherty thanked both the public and her staff during what is an unprecedented moment for the department and Ireland’s welfare system.She said:“We have never experienced a challenge to our welfare system of this magnitude in living memory. Since last Friday, my department has been assisting an unprecedented increase in the numbers of people seeking income support from the department.“I’d like to thank all the staff of my department, many of whom have volunteered to work long hours, weekends and the Holiday to work around the clock to meet demand.“I would also like to thank the public for their patience and forbearance as we try to meet the challenge of a sudden large scale increase in demand for our services. Once more, I would encourage as many as possible to go online and download the application form for the Covid 19 Pandemic Unemployment payment. We are committed to getting payments to everyone as soon as possible.”COVID19 - new system ( basically fortnightly payment)Details of weekly Social Welfare Payment Arrangements for weeks beginning 23 March and 30 MarchPeople receiving the following payments will be paid for 2 weeks during the week beginning 23 March 2020:COVID19 - new system ( basically fortnightly payment)
Details of weekly Social Welfare Payment Arrangements for weeks beginning 23 March and 30 March
People receiving the following payments will be paid for 2 weeks during the week beginning 23 March 2020:

* Adoptive Benefit
* Back to Education Allowance
* Back To School Clothing and Footwear Allowance
* Back to Work Allowance
* Back To Work Enterprise Allowance
* Blind Pension
* Carers Allowance
* Carer&#39;s Benefit
* Death Benefit
* Deserted Wife&#39;s Allowance
* Deserted Wife&#39;s Benefit
* Disability Allowance
* Disablement Benefit
* Employment Support Scheme
* Guardians Payment (Contributory)
* Guardians Payment (Non-Contributory)
* Health and Safety Benefit
* Illness Benefit
* Incapacity Supplement
* Increase for Living on an Island
* Invalidity Pension
* Magdalen Commission Scheme
* Maternity Benefit
* Medical Care
* Occupational Injury Benefit
* Parent&#39;s Benefit
* Partial Capacity Benefit
* Paternity Benefit
* State Pension Contributory
* State Pension Non-Contributory
* Wage Subsidy Scheme
* Widow(er)s Pension Contributory
* Widowed Parent Grant
* Widowed Parent Grant Con
* Widow&#39;s, Widower&#39;s or Surviving Civil Partner&#39;s Pension (Non Contributory)
* Youth Employment Support Scheme
People receiving the following payments will be paid for 2 weeks during the week beginning 30 March 2020:
* Back to Education Allowance*
* Back to Work Allowance
* Back to Work Family Dividend
* Supplementary Welfare Allowance
* Creche Supplement
* Diet Supplement
* Daily Expenses Allowance
* Farm Assist
* Heat Supplement
* Humanitarian Aid
* Jobseeker&#39;s Allowance
* Jobseeker&#39;s Benefit
* Jobseeker&#39;s Benefit for the Self Employed
* One Parent Family Payment
* Part-time Job Incentive
* Rent Supplement
* Short Term Enterprise Allowance
* Supplementary Welfare Allowance
* Travel Supplement
* Working Family Payment
*Some recipients of the Back to Education Allowance will receive 2 weeks payment next week and others will receive their 2 weeks payment the following week. An application form for the new Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment can be downloaded from the website <a href="https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/cb3726-jobseekers-payments/">www.gov.ie/jobseekers </a>and returned to the department via Freepost at PO BOX 12896 Dublin 1.Members of the public can apply for another income support through the online portal <a href="https://services.mywelfare.ie/">www.MyWelfare.ie,</a> (they will need a Public Services Card); or phone the department on 1890 800 024 or 01 2481398 for the relevant application form for the new payment. <h2>How to direct social welfare payments to your bank account: </h2>Direct Payment to an Account in a Financial Institution
You can receive your social protection payments at any bank or post office of your choice, direct to your current or deposit account by completing the following form.
Please download the form and ensure it is filled in accurately. Completed forms can be sent by Freepost to the address referred to on the back of the form.
We cannot accept scanned copies, only original documents. Download the form on the <a href="https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/6aca97-social-welfare-contacts/#direct-payment-to-an-account-in-a-financial-institution">gov.ie website here.</a><h2>Unable to collect your welfare payment? </h2>An Post will allow you to nominate someone to collect your welfare payment. Get all the details<a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/blog/an-post-will-allow-you-to-nominate-someone-to-collect-your-welfar"> here.</a>COVID-19: Get all of the latest updates for Employees and Employers <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/blog/covid-19-all-the-latest-updates-for-employees-and-employers">here.</a>

An Post to pay two weeks' social welfare benefit to customers from Monday

Thousands of workers who have recently been asked to work from home as a result of the outbreak of Covid-19 can avail of Revenue&#39;s e-worker tax relief. Tax refund specialists at Taxback.com say that many of these employees will never have worked from home before, and so will be unaware of the relief that is available to them.More than 100,000 people already worked from home before the Covid-19 outbreak and Revenue has made provisions for these people to be reimbursed for work-related expenses. These include heating, electricity and perhaps broadband expenses.Taxback.com said that by working from home over the coming weeks, and possibly months, people will incur some additional costs that they may not even be aware of.Joanna Murphy, CEO of Taxback.com, said that from a tax perspective, an employer can pay €3.20 a day to their employee to cover these additional costs. Ms Murphy said this payment is tax free, which means they won&#39;t be deducting PAYE, PRSI or USC from that amount. However, employers have no legal obligation to pay the tax relief.&quot;But even if your employer doesn&#39;t and/or isn&#39;t in a position to pay the €3.20, these expenses are eligible for tax relief meaning the home-worker can claim tax back on them,&quot; Joanna Murphy said.&quot;Any claims made will need to be supported with evidence in the form of receipts and possibly a letter from your employer stating that you do, in fact, work from home and that they do not reimburse you for these expenses,&quot; she added.Ms Murphy also said the allowance or rebate claimed must be reasonable, allowing for the fact that the utilities are for both personal and work and benefit everyone else in the home, so the refund received will be based on only a portion of the overall expenses. Source: <a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2020/0320/1124297-working-from-home-tax-relief/">RTÉ</a>COVID-19: Get all of the latest updates for Employees and Employers <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/blog/covid-19-all-the-latest-updates-for-employees-and-employers">here</a>.

Working from home? You claim tax relief for lighting, heat and broadband

Emma O&#39; Kelly
 - Education Correspondent, RTE. Chair, NUJ Dublin Broadcasting. <img src="https://jobalert-blog-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/image/LC.jpg" alt="undefined"></img>The Leaving Cert and Junior Cycle orals and practical exams are being cancelled – but students will be awarded full marks for them.

However, no decision has been made yet about the written exams in June, Education Minister Joe McHugh said today.

The school-based orals and practicals were due to take place over a two week period, starting next Monday.But schools will definitely be closed next week as part of the social distancing measures implemented to restrict the spread of Covid-19, and are likely to remain shut until after Easter.

Today’s announcement means that all students who were due to take part in orals and practicals in the following subjects will be given full marks for this part of the exam:

Oral tests in Leaving Certificate Irish, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian and Japanese.
Practical performance tests in Leaving Certificate Music.
Practical performance tests in Junior Certificate Music and Home Economics.
However, the second phase of practical exams remain as originally scheduled from Monday April 27 to Friday May 8.

And no changes were announced for the written exams in the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) scheduled for Wednesday May 6, a range of oral and practical tests in the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) programme, along with the first examination in Leaving Certificate Computer Science on Wednesday 27 May, or the final written examinations starting on June 3.

Some 126,000 students are due to take the State examinations with 65,190 entered for the Junior Cycle examinations and 61,053 students due to sit the Leaving Cert.

Not all subjects have oral and practical components, so the awarding of full marks for a portion of an exam that has been cancelled – worth between 20pc and 40pc of all marks, depending on the subject - will raise equity issues, that exam chiefs will have to address.Minister McHugh also confirmed changes to deadlines for students to complete project work and coursework in a number of subjects.

Students were originally scheduled to complete these elements of the State exams between tomorrow, March 20 to Friday April 24, depending on the subject.

Students will now be given until Friday May 15 to complete this work.

Completion deadlines are extended for the following:

Leaving Certificate Computer Science, Physical Education, Technology, Art, Agricultural Science, Agricultural Economics, History, Geography, Religious Education, Politics and Society, Music, Constructions Studies and Home Economics;
Junior Cycle Metalwork, Materials Technology Wood, Technology and Religious Education;
Junior Cycle Assessment Tasks in English, Irish, Modern languages, Science and Business Studies.
All eyes will now move to the what happens the written exams.

The Government and State Examinations Commission (SEC) are still hoping that circumstances will allow those to take place.

Mr McHugh said today that the Department of Education would continue to work with the SEC to monitor the Covid-19 situation in terms of its potential impact on the other later scheduled components of the state examinations.

“We will continue to respond at the right time and in the right way, with the impact on our students at the forefront of our minds,” Minister McHugh said.

He said he knew they were “asking a lot of people in order to stem the spread of Covid-19. In response to that I want students and their parents or guardians and teachers to be given flexibility as they work towards the exams.

“All of Government is hugely grateful for the effort, commitment and energy that students and teachers are putting in to continue education in difficult circumstances. I urge you all to keep up the momentum and focus on preparing for the exams.”<a href="https://www.independent.ie/world-news/coronavirus/leaving-cert-and-junior-cycle-orals-and-practical-exams-have-been-cancelled-39057608.html">Source. </a>

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