Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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1070. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person who was laid off due to the Covid-19 pandemic can continue to remain on the pandemic unemployment payment despite the person's employer reopening in order that the person can continue to provide essential childcare in the family home in view of the fact crèches, schools and other childcare facilities remain closed; the steps being taken to help families in this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8511/20]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business sets out how COVID 19 restrictions will gradually be lifted.  As different parts of the economy open at different times, I am aware of the fact that schools and creches have not yet re-opened and may cause some obstacles for workers with childcare responsibilities.   

The Government has requested employers to be as flexible as possible in allowing staff time off to look after their children or other members of their families.  Some of the flexible options include offering paid compassionate leave, allowing employees to work from home, altering shifts so that employees can coordinate caring between themselves and partners or another person, allowing employees to rearrange holidays and allowing employees to take paid time off that can be worked back at a later time.

Where it is not possible to make appropriate compassionate leave arrangements, employees may be able to call on some statutory entitlements including force majeure leave, parental leave together with  parental benefit or carers leave together with carers benefit or carers allowance.

If a person has left work to care for a child because of school or childcare closures and the employer is no longer paying the person’s wages, they may qualify for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment.

I trust that this clarifies the matter.

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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1071. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the options available in terms of social welfare support to a person who is in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment and can only return to self-employment on a part-time basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8512/20]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The COVID 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced in March 2020 as a time-limited emergency measure to meet the surge in unemployment which resulted from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.  For self-employed people, they must have experienced a collapse of income and be available to take up other full-time work if it was available to them in order to qualify. 

Where a self-employed person does not qualify for this emergency payment they can apply for a jobseekers payment.  Jobseekers benefit (self-employed) was one of the measures I introduced in late 2019 which is available for self-employed people who have ceased trading.  If a person’s business is operating at a reduced level they may be eligible to apply for support under the means tested jobseekers allowance scheme.

The Government recognises that the COVID 19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges for businesses.  My colleague, the Minister for the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation has introduced a range of supports and guidance for businesses available on that Department's website at www.dbei.gov.ie.  The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme, administered by the Revenue Commissioners is available to employers who keep employees on the payroll throughout the COVID 19 pandemic, so that employers can retain links with employees for when business picks up after the crisis.

Where a person is experiencing financial hardship they can apply for financial support through the means tested supplementary welfare allowance scheme. 

I trust that this clarifies the situation.