The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is a statutory support which is available to people who have lost their employment as a direct consequence of Covid-19.
If an employee loses their job for reasons which are not related to Covid-19, they can avail of support under the Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker's Allowances schemes. Jobseeker's Benefit is a social insurance scheme based on an individual’s PRSI record and Jobseeker's Allowance is a social assistance scheme which is subject to a means test.
I trust that this clarifies the position in so far as entitlement to social protection benefits is concerned.