A scheme to subsidise workers in vulnerable but viable firms has supported almost 7,500 jobs to date.

Tanaiste Mary Coughlan revealed 68 million euro will be paid out this week to keep people's jobs safe until the end of next year.

Mr Coughlan said the uptake of the initiative - which provides 9,100 euro to each worker over 15 months - was lower than expected so a second round of applications will be opened to both exporting and non-exporting firms.

"The employment subsidy scheme is designed to support the maintenance of vulnerable jobs and prevent people from being made redundant," said Ms Coughlan, minister for enterprise, trade and employment.

Each of the companies receiving support under the scheme has committed to retaining an agreed level of employees until December 2010.

Sean Murphy, deputy chief executive of Chambers Ireland, said he welcomed the wider focus of the initiative as part of ongoing efforts to sustain confidence and employment.

"The economic downturn and the banking crisis demand different strategies to be employed to sustain our economy," said Mr Murphy. "The extension of this scheme is but one measure needed to deal with the recession and retain more jobs."

The scheme was introduced to try and retain jobs and the economy's skills base as unemployment soared.

Firms which qualified for support were judged vulnerable in the current economic climate but viable in the medium to long term.

Ms Coughlan said that as a result of it, companies who signed up have committed to retain a total of 35,283 jobs.