Fiona Sutton MISCP Chartered Physiotherapist
MAJOR CHALLENGE TO GET BUSINESS BACK GOING
Senator Malcolm Byrne is pushing for a major programme to support small businesses in maintaining employment as we emerge from the Covid19 Pandemic. He has pointed out that if the new Fianna Fáil /Fine Gael /Green government comes about later this month that it will face possibly the biggest economic challenge of our lifetimes. He is calling for an extension of the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme to help enterprise keep people in jobs.
“We have had the highest numbers ever out of work - over a quarter of the working adult population have been in receipt of State Covid19 supports. That was essential for the last few months but now our priority has to be getting people back to work and supporting companies and organisations in sustaining those jobs,” he said.
Malcolm highlighted that the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme has helped support employment and said that despite the fact that this is scheduled to end in August, he has urged it to be continued for longer, “until business is back up on its feet.”
The new Fianna Fáil Senator has been suggestion that we also monitor programmes in other European countries to see what works. “I have been impressed by the Danish model where the government is giving direct grants to companies to maintain employment- even taking an equity stake in some cases. France has also extended its equivalent of our wage subsidy scheme.”
Malcolm has also urged that those who find that their jobs may no longer exist at the end of this period be given easy access to education and training to reskill and upskill. He has asked that the Back to Education Allowance be more easily available in these circumstances.
“We have got to put getting business back in action and ensuring work for people at the top of the political agenda. Tied to that is providing educational opportunities to avail of new technologies that are changing our lives.”
The Gorey based representative added that everyone can help by supporting businesses in their community.
“From buying the local paper to supporting the local coffee shop, everyone one of us can help stimulate the local economy. We still have a lot of difficulties to overcome but as we have shown in the last few months, by working together, we can do it.”
I AM a CORU registered Chartered Physiotherapist and a member of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists. I specialise in musculoskeletal conditions including sprains and strains, back pain, sports injuries and mobility issues. I am an APPI trained Pilates Instructor and an enthusiastic proponent of Pilates as an excellent exercise programme for both prevention and treatment of back pain, neck pain, poor posture and general muscle and joint stiffness. I teach Pilates one on one and will hopefully be back to teaching classes when the current situation allows. I have recently completed training in Pilates for Osteoporosis
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