Tánaiste Announces 133 Million Euro To "Save" 100,000 Jobs

The Tánaiste said, "The Employment Subsidy Scheme is designed to prevent people from being made redundant.

"Each of the companies who will receive support under the Employment Subsidy Scheme have committed to retaining an agreed level of employees until December 2010.

"The Employment Subsidy Scheme is enabling the State to protect vulnerable employment, which may otherwise have been lost without this subsidy."

Announcing the results of the Second Call the Tánaiste said "Under the Second Call of the Employment Subsidy Scheme a total of 1,213 enterprises have been successful and will receive subsidies worth a combined value of €64.9 million.

"This support will either directly or indirectly support 66,567 jobs until December 2010.

"While applicants are currently being informed whether their application was successful or not, the detailed Letters of Offer will be posted by Enterprise Ireland to successful applicants on 26th March 2010."

Continuing, the Tánaiste said, "As a result of both the First and Second Calls of the Employment Subsidy Scheme a total of 1,670 companies are eligible for support and almost 100,000 jobs are being retained that may otherwise have been lost.

"In total the Government are investing almost €133 million in the Employment Subsidy Scheme between this year and last year.

"This reflects the Government's strong commitment to supporting enterprises and employees through this current difficult economic period."