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Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2020

Tuesday, 28 July 2020

Ceisteanna (574, 606)

Neale Richmond

Ceist:

574. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the pandemic unemployment payment can be extended for those working in the tourism industry that are unlikely to see a return to previous levels of income in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18096/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Emer Higgins

Ceist:

606. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the pandemic unemployment payment will be extended to qualified self-employed professional tourist guides until March 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18381/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 574 and 606 together.

The COVID 19 pandemic unemployment payment was introduced as an emergency measure to meet the surge in unemployment which resulted from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. As part of the July stimulus package the Government announced the further extension of the pandemic unemployment payment to April 2021. 

One of the conditions for receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment is that a person must have been in employment immediately before 13th March and lost their income from employment. If this is not the case then the pandemic unemployment payment is not payable.  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 pandemic unemployment payment are eligible to apply for a jobseekers payment.  Jobseeker's benefit is a weekly payment to people who have lost their employment and who satisfy the scheme's statutory conditions including the requirement to have sufficient social insurance contributions paid.  This benefit is paid for 9 months (234 days) for people with 260 or more PRSI contributions paid and for 6 months (156 days) for people who have less than 260 paid.  Where a person does not re-qualify or has used up their entitlement to jobseeker’s benefit they can apply for the means tested jobseeker’s allowance. The maximum weekly rate of payment for these schemes is €203 and increases may also be paid for any qualifying adults and children.  

Any person who is experiencing financial hardship may be eligible for other financial supports under the means-tested supplementary welfare allowance scheme including an Exceptional or Urgent Needs payment.  Information on the supports available under this scheme is available at www.gov.ie.

The Government has set employment recovery as its top priority and a key element of the July Stimulus Package will be enhancing the supports available to people who lost their employment to assist people back into work.  My Department has also secured an additional €100 million in funding, in addition to the €12 million already secured in June, for a significant ramping up in the delivery of employment services to workers.

I trust this clarifies the position at this time.

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