Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change) | Oireachtas source

There was a big sigh of relief when it was announced in the budget that the Christmas bonus will be paid this year at 100%. There was also an announcement that it will be extended to those on the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, and those on jobseeker's allowance but there is an added qualification in that a person will need to have been on the payment for four months. Does that mean that people in Dublin who may have lost their jobs on 18 or 19 September when level 3 restrictions were imposed will not get the payment? Does that mean that people in County Donegal who may have lost their jobs and gone on the PUP on 25 September will not get the bonus payment? Will the same be true for people in counties Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan where level 4 restrictions will be in place from tonight? This has to be looked at and addressed and everybody who is on jobseeker's allowance or the PUP should be getting the bonus payment this Christmas.

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