Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020
1118. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of recipients of the pandemic unemployment payment who were part-time workers; her plans to reform the short-term working support scheme to allow former part-time workers to be eligible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9107/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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. Payments issued to some 579,400 people this in the previous week. I am advised that the Department does not hold data on the numbers who were working part time or full time.
The short time work support is a social insurance contribution based income support available to full time employees who have had the number of their days of employment reduced on a temporary basis due to a reduction in business, including following the effects of the Pandemic.
Where an employee, including a part time employee, has had their hours of work reduced and is unemployed for 4 days or more in a week they can apply for the social-insurance based jobseekers benefit. If an employee does not qualify for these social insurance supports they may be eligible for the means tested jobseekers allowance scheme.
I trust this clarifies the position at this time.
