I propose to take Questions Nos. 979, 987, 996, 1000 and 1016 together.
The COVID 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced in March 2020 as a time-limited emergency measure to meet the surge in unemployment which resulted from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. The conditions for receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment are that a person must be of working age between 18 and up to 66 years old, have been in employment immediately before 13th March and have lost their income from employment. A student who satisfies these conditions, including an international student, is eligible for this payment.
Where a student was due to take up an internship or seasonal work but was not actually in employment they would not be eligible to receive the COVID-19 pandemic unemployment payment. It would be impossible to construct a scheme based on claims of potential or prospective but unrealised employment, particularly in an environment where the economy was operating at full-employment with many unfilled vacancies prior to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Where a student is experiencing financial hardship they can apply for financial support under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. In order to access this support, a Personal Public Services Number (PPSN) is required. The Department has temporarily postponed the SAFE registration process, carried out in local offices of the Department, in respect of people applying for a Personal Public Services Number (PPSN). This decision was taken in order to comply with guidelines in respect of social distancing. As a result of the postponement of the SAFE process, an email and postal service has now been introduced. Detailed information on this service is available on www.gov.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter.