Paul Murphy
Ceist:136. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason Covid-19 support payments for workers are to be cut; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30408/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 1 July 2021
Ceisteanna (136, 159, 164, 165, 169)
Christopher O'Sullivan
Ceist:159. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the pandemic unemployment payment will continue past September 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30181/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:164. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the current number of claimants on the pandemic unemployment payment; the steps she plans taking to ensure that workers in the sectors of the economy that will be slowest to recover from the Covid-19 crisis are protected from a sudden change in the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34173/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:165. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if State supports will be extended beyond 19 July 2021 to persons unable to return to work due to Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35263/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Joan Collins
Ceist:169. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if a gradual tapering of the pandemic unemployment payment will be put in place to protect income if workers are returning to less hours or less pay from their employer than they had before the pandemic in view of the fact that the reopening of workplaces is very precarious especially with the delta variant and potential future variants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35348/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 136, 159, 164, 165 and 169 together.
The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was introduced as an emergency measure to support qualifying employees and the self-employed who lost employment due to the pandemic. To date expenditure on the scheme is over €8 billion, which demonstrates the Governments clear commitment to support workers and businesses who have been severely impacted by Covid-19.
Approximately 227,980 people received a PUP payment this week, representing a drop of 254,000, or almost 53%, since the numbers in receipt of PUP peaked this year at around 482,000 in February. The requirement for emergency measures is diminishing due to more people returning to work as restrictions are gradually lifted and the continuation of the vaccination roll-out. We expect tens of thousands more people to close their PUP over the coming weeks and months because their employment will reopen. To allow as much time as possible for employment to recover, a transitional approach will be taken until February 2022 with PUP whereby the rates of payment will remain unchanged until September when they will commence a gradual reduction over 6 months back to standard jobseekers terms. People currently receiving the €203 rate and those who reach the €203 rate in each phase, will then transition to standard jobseeker terms. This will be done over a period of time commencing from September and with advance notice.Supports will be available under the Jobseeker's Benefit and the means tested Jobseeker's Allowance for those who may be returning to reduced days of employment. Detailed information on these supports are available on the gov.ie website and from Intreo centres. As has been the case throughout the pandemic, the position with regard to the PUP will be kept under review as the public health advice evolves. I trust this clarifies the position at this time.