Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

679. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the Covid-19 payment will be reinstated to asylum seekers in direct provision; if an increase to the rate of the daily expenses allowance will be reconsidered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10359/20]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Applicants for International Protection accommodated under the system of Direct Provision operated by the International Protection Accommodation Services of the Department of Justice and Equality are provided with full board accommodation and other facilities and services. People in direct provision receive a daily expenses allowance payment from my Department payable at the weekly rate of €38.80 for adults and €29.80 for children. In this situation, the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is not payable where the person’s needs are being met through the services provided by the accommodation centre and the daily expenses allowance payment.

Where applicants for International Protection live in the community outside the direct provision system, they are eligible for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment if they meet the conditions for the payment.

Applicants for international protection may receive assistance under the Exceptional Needs Payment scheme to meet with any costs that cannot be met from their weekly allowance.

I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

683. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of taxi drivers and PSV licence holders currently in receipt of the Covid-19 payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10425/20]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

684. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will maintain the Covid-19 pandemic payment for taxi drivers until the industry recovers but allow drivers to top-up their income by doing some work without losing the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10426/20]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 683 and 684 together.

The COVID 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced as an emergency measure to meet the surge in unemployment which resulted from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. Self-employed people 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. Government has announced the continuation of this payment until 10th August which provides financial certainty as we move further, and at a faster pace that expected, towards re-opening our society.

Where a self-employed person does not qualify for this emergency payment they can apply for a jobseekers payment. If a person's business has ceased trading they can avail of jobseekers benefit (self-employed) which I introduced in late 2019. 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.

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

I am advised that my Department does not have detailed industry breakdowns of the number of people in receipt of the COVID 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment such as taxi drivers or PSV licence holders. However, recipients are categorized under a number of broader sectors. Taxi drivers are categorized as being in the Transportation and Storage sector and the number of people in this sector in receipt of the COVID 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment since 2 June 2020 is 16,200.

I trust that this clarifies the situation.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

685. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 1287 of 20 May 2020, if she will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10437/20]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was introduced by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. It is an income support payment for both employees and the self-employed who have become fully unemployed due to a downturn in economic activity related to Covid-19. The Coivd-19 PUP is payable where a person meeting the qualifying criteria became unemployed on or after 6/3/2020.

A person is eligible to apply for the Covid-19 (PUP) if they:

- are aged between 18 and 66 years old and

- are currently living in the Republic of Ireland and

-have lost their job due to the COVID-19 pandemic or

- have been temporarily laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic and

- worked in the Republic of Ireland or were a cross border frontier worker and

- are not in receipt of any employment income.

The PUP is not available to people who self-isolate due to an underlying medical condition.

In order to receive a Covid Illness Benefit (IB) payment a person must be diagnosed with Covid-19 or be medically certified as a probable source of infection in order to be eligible for Covid IB, in addition to having worked in the pervious four weeks.

If medical certification is provided by a doctor of a non-Covid-19 illness and if a person is eligible, payment is awarded at normal rate of IB.

I am advised that the records of my Department reflect that the person concerned is currently in receipt of an Illness Benefit payment at the normal rate of IB. This payment has been certified up to 8/6/2020.

When the person concerned is certified medically fit to return to work and if he is concerned about returning to work due to Covid-19, he should contact his employer regarding this matter. There are a number of steps an employer can take in line with social distancing guidelines to facilitate employees during this period including, introducing/altering shift patterns, allow employees to take time worked up, work remotely from home or bring forward annual leave entitlements from future work periods. Many employers can and do agree to compassionate leave in certain circumstances.

If the person concerned is experiencing financial difficulties at present, it is open to him to contact his local Community Welfare Service in Maynooth where his circumstances will be assessed. Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department can make a single Exceptional Needs Payment to help meet essential, once-off expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. There is no automatic entitlement to these payments which are payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case, in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance. The Community Welfare Service may be contacted by phone at 01 6016360.

I trust this clarifies the matter.