Róisín Garvey (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

It is amazing what people can do when they are under pressure. I compliment the Department of Social Protection on the number of people who were given some kind of respite in the pandemic because it was quite a shocking occurrence. The pandemic hit us overnight. Nobody saw it coming at the level it did. The Department did amazing work and kept many people sane and above water. I thank the Department for all its efforts.

With regards to the student payments, it has been amazing for the students who usually have part-time work to be able to get the PUP. That made a phenomenal difference to them. It was really important for them to be independent of their parents. Maybe they were independent of their parents anyway but they stood on their own two feet and they have worked. It was amazing the Department did that. I was curious about whether they will be eligible for the Christmas bonus because they will be dying to know that.

The second question I wanted to ask was about the arts and culture. I would like clarity around the €480. Is it that they can earn up to €480 sporadically and still be eligible for the PUP?

Another issue that came to my notice from different people in my county who would have worked in different sectors, especially in the tourism sector, who were over 66 and who have always worked is that they were not eligible for the PUP payment. That is shocking because those people have been working probably 50 years. I felt so bad when they were approaching me saying that they have worked all their life and now they have nothing and the Department will not give them anything just because they are a bit older. I would like to hear a response to that. That is something we must look at in the long term. How we treat our older people in this country needs to be looked at, especially with regards to the Department of Social Protection.

Seasonal staff missed out on the PUP. In my county, we have a considerable tourism industry and there were people who missed out only by a matter of days. As the part-time employment contracts that they have had for 30 or 40 years in the Cliffs of Moher or wherever did not start this year, they missed out by a couple of days. They were not eligible. I do not know whether that has been rectified or what the Department has done about that. There is a significant number of people employed in the tourism industry and it would be seasonal work.

Deputy Ó Cuív mentioned mortgages. This is probably not for this Department. The €350 will keep people above water but, as the Deputy said, for those with big mortgages, often half people's wages are going on their mortgage, sadly. It is disgraceful. I was wondering if there is any mortgage relief. Is that a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage or where does one find information about that?

On the PUP tax, if people have to pay it back, whether they are students or otherwise, if Ms Leonard and Mr. Hession are saying it is not a matter for their Department, which Department do I go to to find out that?

Overall, I thank the Department. It has done brilliantly.