Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands to discuss the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme

Officials from the Department of Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and The Islands will appear before the Committee, nine days after a public consultation carried out by the Joint Committee closed.

Speaking in advance of the meeting, Committee Chairperson, Denis Naughten TD, said: “We have all identified anomalies with the operation of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme which is acting as a barrier to those in need of assistance and ultimately as a barrier to work. As a result we have invited Officials from the Department of Social Protection to address some of the questions raised regarding the operation of the scheme”.

“We commenced a  detailed examination and review of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) Scheme, as administered by the Department of Social Protection, some weeks back, and the public submissions, and Wednesday’s engagement will assist the committee as we work to present a report of its findings to the Minister of Social Protection as soon as possible.

“As part of our ongoing work we are also examining the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme, and will publish submissions on the Committee’s website in the coming weeks. There have been clear anomalies in the operation of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment as well as its interaction with other supports such as the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) since last March, with thousands of people and families impacted, and we look forward to Wednesday’s engagement.”

Tomorrow’s meeting in Committee Room 4 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

For more information about the work of the Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands seethe Committee webpage