Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 September 2020
472. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures in place to assist those over 50 years of age who have found themselves unemployed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, especially those who were self-employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23936/20]
View answer481. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has reviewed the supports and payments that have been made available to persons out of work in the music industry; her plans for the industry going forward; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23404/20]
View answer506. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection if a series of matters regarding taxi drivers will be addressed (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23605/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 472, 481 and 506 together.
The pandemic unemployment payment is available to employees and self-employed persons aged between 18 and 66 years and has been extended until the end of March 2021 to support employees and businesses who continue to be severely impacted by ongoing Public Health restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A self-employed person must have suffered a reduction in their trading income to the extent that they are available to take up other full-time employment. This allows some limited scope for a self-employed person to engage in once-off or emergency work and still retain eligibility for the pandemic unemployment payment. This is essentially occasional, irregular or isolated events and where there is a clear divergence from previous employment patterns. Where a self-employed individual has regular employment or it generates significant income, then they should close their Pandemic Unemployment Payment as they do not satisfy the conditions for the payment. In cases of doubt, an individual should raise the matter with my Department.
Where a person is not eligible to receive the Pandemic Unemployment Payment they may apply for a jobseeker payment. Jobseekers Benefit is a social insurance based income support for people who have suffered a substantial loss of employment and satisfy the other conditions of the scheme. If a person does not qualify for Jobseekers Benefit they may be eligible for means tested Jobseekers Allowance. A person in receipt of a jobseekers payment may take up employment but they must be unemployed for 4 days in 7 consecutive days.
The Department has put in place a mailbox dedicated to the Arts sector to raise queries directly with the Department at this time at artistspup@welfare.ie. The Department also operates a scheme for self-employed Artists on Jobseeker's Allowance. The scheme acknowledges the status of self-employed artists and writers and gives them a 12 month window to focus on building up their work before they become subject to labour market activation.
I also wish to draw your attention to the Enterprise Support Grant which previously supported entrepreneurs who were setting up new enterprises but has now been extended to provide once-off supports for self-employed people who have been severely impacted and have had to cease operations as a result of the Pandemic. The grant has been paid to over 1,000 self-employed persons and is payable up to €1,000 to help small business owners who transition from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment to re-open their business. It is payable to self-employed micro enterprises that are not eligible for support from the COVID 19 Business Restart Grant or other similar business reopening grants. Details on the application process to access this grant is available on www.gov.ie.
The July Stimulus package contained significant funding of some €200 million in supports towards education, upskilling and work placements for people who are unemployed, to help them avail of employment opportunities as the economy gradually reopens. Details of these employment support service measures to assist people back to work are available on www.gov.ie.
Any person who is experiencing financial hardship may access assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme including Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments. Information on the supports available under this scheme is available at www.gov.ie.
The Employer Wage Subsidy Scheme is operated by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and further information on this scheme is available at www.gov.ie.
I hope that this clarifies the position.
