Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 May 2020
1192. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the Covid-19 payment will be prolonged beyond the current timeframe for artists and freelance technicians involved in the artistic industry (details supplied). [7003/20]
View answer1221. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there will be a change to the eligibility criteria to qualify for the pandemic unemployment payment in June 2020 in view of the announcement that the payment will be extended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5939/20]
View answer1222. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the extension to the pandemic unemployment payment will follow the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business; if persons will no longer be eligible for the payment once their industry or place of employment is allowed to reopen as envisaged in the roadmap; if allowances will be made for persons who cannot return to work for medical or childcare reasons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5940/20]
View answer1223. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if students who were working part-time or on an ad hoc basis will continue to receive the pandemic unemployment payment once it is extended in June; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5941/20]
View answer1224. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the length of time for which the pandemic unemployment payment will extended; the estimated expenditure on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5942/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1192, 1221, 1222, 1223 and 1224 together.
This week, my Department issued COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment payments valued at over €200 million to 585,000 people. Projected expenditure for up to 12 weeks payment is in excess of €2.2 billion.
The Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, published by the Government on 1 May 2020 sets out a timetable for the phased reopening of society and the economy and envisages a series of steps which will lead to the resumption of various sectors of the economy. As this situation continues to evolve, decisions around the future of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be taken by Government having regard to a range of factors including how the public health situation evolves and the effects of the re-opening of Phase 1 which are being carefully monitored.
I trust this clarifies the position at this time.
