Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The PUP scheme is due to run until the end of March. The Government has never been found wanting in supporting workers through this payment. Together with my Government colleagues, I will assess the situation. We are still not out of January. People know that they will get the payment for February and March. We have always supported the workers and we will continue to do so but, obviously, we will have to take account of the situation at that time, which will depend on the trajectory of the virus, the roll-out of the vaccine and where we are with regard to the reopening of the economy.

With regard to frontier workers, I understand the point the Deputy is making. If one is working in Northern Ireland and living in the Republic of Ireland, one is entitled to the pandemic unemployment payment at our rates. If one is living in Northern Ireland and working south of the Border, one must apply for the supports in the country in which one is resident. I want to be clear on that because I know there has been conversations about it and I do understand. People tell me that they are working in the South and paying tax there, so they should be entitled to unemployment support there. That is not the way it works, however. It is agreed right across Europe that people get unemployment benefit in the country in which they are resident. That is the situation. I just wanted to clarify that for the Deputy.

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