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Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Questions (1151, 1153)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

1151. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether it is fair to cut from September 2021 onwards the only financial support for workers in the music and entertainment sector who remain without a roadmap, date or plan for getting back to work and whose work is prohibited because of Government restrictions; and if she will reconsider reducing their only source of income the pandemic unemployment payment by €100 per person in the lead up to Christmas. [40713/21]

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Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

1153. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if an exemption will be made to the planned pandemic unemployment payment cuts for sectors such as the music and entertainment sector that remain under restrictions to the point that their workers cannot work. [40715/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1151 and 1153 together.

The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was introduced as an emergency measure for qualifying employees and self -employed people who lost their employment, as a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic. To date expenditure on PUP is approximately €8.3 billion.

The number of people availing of PUP has reached its lowest level since its introduction with just over 202,00 receiving a payment last week representing a drop of over 280,000 since the numbers in receipt of PUP peaked this year at around 482,000 in February.

It is clear that the requirement for emergency measures is diminishing as restrictions are gradually lifted and employments are reopening. The Government, under its National Economic Recovery Plan, has announced changes to PUP including a transitional approach to its withdrawal on a tapered basis over 6 months to allow as much time as possible for the reopening of the economy.

There will be no change to the current PUP rates until 7th September 2021 at which point, they will begin to be gradually reduced on a phased basis in increments of €50 per week. Two further phases of rate changes are scheduled to take place from 16th November 2021 and 8th of February 2022. As PUP recipients go on to the €203 rate in each phase, they will be transitioned to standard jobseeker terms.

The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be fair or practical to make exceptions on a sectoral basis.

Arrangements will continue for self-employed PUP recipients, including those who work in the live events industry, to take up some limited self-employment. A person can earn up to €960 over an eight week period and maintain their full PUP; this figure is net of expenses. Where a person is self employed for up to 24 hours per week and their self employment income exceeds the threshold they may apply for the Part Time Job Incentive for Self employed. Qualifying recipients of the scheme receive a payment of €128.60 per week and there is no income limit applied in these cases. The extension of the Part Time Job Incentive to self- employed people will continue until the end of the current year.

Furthermore, the €1,000 Covid-19 Enterprise Support Grant to assist self -employed people to restart their business will continue to be available to self-employed people closing PUP claims until the end of 2021. A self-employed person closing their PUP claim to reopen their business will be able to avail of this grant even if they have previously claimed it as part of a reopening in 2020.

I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Question No. 1152 answered with Question No. 1104.
Question No. 1153 answered with Question No. 1151.
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