Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath has said the Government is looking at the possibility of "certain design changes" to the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme.
Speaking on RTÉ's This Week programme, Mr McGrath said the scheme has played a huge role so far in maintaining employment, supporting over 400,000 workers.
He said the cost of not continuing the scheme would also be very great, as it would inevitably have a significant effect on unemployment.
He said the scheme cannot come to an abrupt end, and that he and Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe are in discussions as to its future.