Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 July 2020
225. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which she remains satisfied regarding the adequacy of the budget for her Department to meet increased demand arising from Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19494/20]
View answerThe 2020 Revised Estimate of Expenditure was voted on by the Oireachtas on 28 May 2020. This Revised Estimate provided for an overall estimate of €28.04 billion, an increase of €6.84 billion or 32.2% on the original 2020 REV estimate published in December 2019, but which had not been voted. The increased expenditure was required to provide funding for the new Covid-19 measures such as the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), the Temporary Wage Supplement Scheme and the enhanced Covid Illness Benefit payments, as well as additional expenditure on other schemes arising from the Covid-19 crisis. The level of funding provided reflected decisions already made by the then Government, for payment of the PUP up to 9th June 2020 and the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme up to 12th June 2020.
As the Deputy is aware, PUP payments continued beyond that date and I have now decided that the PUP scheme should continue into next year, albeit at a level of payment more closely related to previous earnings. The timeframe for payment of the Temporary Wage Subsidy was similarly extended and will now be replaced by a new Employment Wage Support Scheme to support employers into the beginning of 2021. The enhanced Covid Illness Benefit is also to remain in place. In addition the expansion in employment services and supports announced as part of the Jobs Stimulus initiative announced last week will cost in the region of €100 million.
Expenditure by my Department on all schemes, including those impacted by the pandemic Covid crisis and planned for the continued provision of income support and to support employment, is closely monitored and kept under constant review and I am satisfied that it can be accommodated within the overall Government programme to support economic recovery.
