Written answers

Wednesday, 27 May 2020

Department of Education and Skills

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Photo of Anne RabbitteAnne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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107. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a student based at a network (details supplied) is entitled to the pandemic unemployment payment if already in receipt of jobseeker's; if he will reinstate the travel allowance of €12.70 and the meal allowance of €4; if not, when is he expecting to reintroduce such allowances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7769/20]

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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The National Learning Network (NLN) provides training through the Specialist Training Provider programme on behalf of Education and Training Boards. Participating learners receive a training allowance in lieu of certain social welfare entitlements.

The COVID 19 Pandemic 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. The conditions for receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment are that a person must of working age between 18 and up to 66 years old, have been in employment immediately prior to 13th March and have lost their employment and income due to the impact of the pandemic. This payment is not payable in addition to a jobseeker's payment. If the student concerned satisfies the conditions for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment they should contact the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection to ensure that they are in receipt of the appropriate type of payment.

Circular 23 /2020 was issued by my Department in March 2020 to guide learner payments during the current crisis. While training allowances continue to be paid to learners until they can complete their course, additional payments that assist in the cost of actual attendance on training courses and / or work experience such as travel and meals are only paid when they are incurred. Therefore they would not generally apply when centres are closed.

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