FINANCE Minister Paschal Donohoe has said the country is now facing very significant job losses and will likely record a budget deficit this year. These include a three-month break on mortgage and loan repayments for those affected and an increase in contactless payments from €30 to €50. Mr Donohoe warned that any landlords availing of the break in loan repayments should not be evicting tenants. “We are putting in place really significant measures to our banking system to help those who have loans and mortgages at a time of great risk. He said interest would still accrue on deferred loan repayments which would be "a very small sum of money" over a lifelong mortgage.

Source: Irish Independent March 18, 2020 18:33 UTC