Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020
1057. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to support the workers in the bus, tour bus and coach industry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8880/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra1084. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will include adult literacy tutors on the provision of the pandemic unemployment payment in addition to seasonal hospitality workers in view of the fact their employment has ceased due to Covid-19. [8615/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra1085. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps being taken to allow persons who were in the process of changing jobs when the national shutdown commenced but were not actually on the payroll of their new company to avail of the pandemic unemployment payment, many of whom had a full employment history; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8631/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra1092. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if those on career breaks can access social welfare supports during Covid-19 in view of the fact that their plans for their career break cannot go ahead and they have no income; the options those affected have; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8694/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1057, 1084, 1085 and 1092 together.
The COVID 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced in March 2020 as a time-limited emergency measure to meet the surge in unemployment which resulted from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. The conditions for receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment are that a person must be of working age between 18 and up to 66 years old, have been in employment immediately before 13th March and have lost their income from employment.
If a person was not in employment immediately prior to 13th March they are not eligible to receive the pandemic unemployment payment. Similarly a person, who was due to start a new job, enter employment after a career break or take up seasonal employment but was not actually in employment immediately before 13th March, is not eligible to receive the emergency payment.
It would be impossible to construct a scheme based on claims of potential or prospective but unrealised employment, particularly where the economy was operating at full-employment with many unfilled vacancies prior to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
People who do not qualify for the emergency payment are eligible to apply for jobseekers benefit if they meet the social insurance contribution condition requirement otherwise they may apply for means tested jobseekers allowance.
Any person who is experiencing financial hardship may be eligible for financial support under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme subject to satisfying the conditions of the scheme which include a means test.
I trust this clarifies the position.
