Dáil debates
Wednesday, 29 July 2020
Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions
Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
10:30 am
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source
I thank the Deputy. As I said last night, we have to take a common-sense approach to this because some sectors have not fully opened up yet. We will do that, and I have asked my officials to ensure that that sensible approach is taken for those who cannot return to work and who are waiting for their job to come back. If they work in a pub, and we hope pubs will reopen by 10 August, they will get that opportunity. However, we have to be realistic because some jobs will not come back and there is no point in waiting for the never ever. It is best that we help people to reskill, retrain and look at other jobs they can take up.
In terms of the self-employed, they are self-employed, and if their work is there to go back to, there is other assistance we can give them.
There is a grant they can get to help them get back to work and to pay for expenses they may incur in trying to get their businesses back up and running. We have to take a sensible approach.
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