Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has said while he does not know how long the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme will continue, it will not come to "an abrupt end".
He said it is currently keeping 400,000 people in a job and if were to stop suddenly that would create the risk of jobs being lost.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Donohoe said: "The wage subsidy scheme is perhaps the most significant and radical and successful cash injection scheme that has ever been brought in." As for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme, he said is a decision that needs to be taken by government as to how long it will be extended for and possible changes to it.