Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 May 2020
1431. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if announcements of financial supports will be made to assist freelance technicians who could not be classified as artists but are essential to the functioning of the industry and have been equally as affected by the Covid-19 crisis. [7007/20]
View answerAs part of its suite of responses to the COVID-19 situation, the Government introduced new temporary measures to provide financial support to workers affected by the COVID-19 crisis including the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment and a Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme.
The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, which is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, offers a payment to employees and to the self-employed who have lost their job on (or after) 13 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An application in respect of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment can be made both by employees who have lost their job, been temporarily laid off, asked to stay at home, or are not getting any money from an employer; and the self-employed who have temporarily ceased trading due to the pandemic.
The Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme is administered by the Revenue Commissioners. The scheme is predicated on the employer wanting to keep employees on the payroll and to retain them until business picks up by enabling employees, whose employers are affected by the pandemic, to receive significant supports directly from their employer through the payroll system. The scheme is expected to last 12 weeks from 26 March 2020 and will cover 70% of the net salary of workers, up to a maximum of €410 per week.
These two schemes are in addition to the normal state supports that remain in place.
There is nothing in the legislation excluding any sector or profession in the economy. Equally freelance and/or self-employed people can qualify for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. My Department provides a helpdesk advice facility on income support for individuals at artsunit@chg.gov.ie and I would encourage people in the sector to make contact for advice.
