Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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918. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if Covid-19 payments will be extended to specific industries in relation to the timeframe in which they are permitted to return to work, that is, the live events industry which was the first to close down and will be the last to reopen; if it will be ensured that if the Covid-19 payments become industry specific that the event industry is given recognition for being one of the last industries to return to work in view of the fact it is vital to ensure skill retention in the industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7652/20]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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935. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will extend the pandemic unemployment payment; and if so, the length of time the payment will be extended for and the rates for same. [7333/20]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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942. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the date the pandemic unemployment payment is due to cease in June 2020; her plans to extend the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7382/20]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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949. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to modify the short-term work support scheme during the reopening phase; her further plans to increase the rate of the scheme in line with the pandemic unemployment payment of €350; her plans to tailor the scheme in line with the need of specific sectors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7482/20]

Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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971. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to extend the pandemic unemployment payment until August 2020 for persons that are not due to return to work until phase 5 of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. [7759/20]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 918, 935, 942, 949 and 971 together.

The COVID-19 unemployment payment was introduced as a time limited emergency measure to meet the surge in unemployment which resulted from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic and the final payment is due to be made on 9th June 2020.

As we gradually move through the phases of reopening our society, we need to now review the nature of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and how it fits into cross-Government plans to keep Ireland healthy and get the country working again. Any future decisions will be based on our commitment that everyone who needs help will get the most appropriate assistance and also based on the evidence we receive from the reopening of the economy. Arrangements for supports beyond that date will be considered by Government as part of its broad based approach to management of the emergency across all sectors of the economy and society.

I trust this clarifies the position at this time.