Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1025. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on extending the pandemic unemployment payment to those who were in full-time employment prior to the crisis and are now full-time carers as a direct result of the pandemic. [11528/20]

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

The COVID 19 pandemic unemployment payment was introduced as a time limited emergency measure in response to the pandemic and Government has approved the extension of this payment until 10 August 2020.

The conditions for receipt of this payment are that a person must be of working age between 18 and up to 66 years old, have been in employment immediately before 13 March 2020 and have lost their employment due to the pandemic and are not being paid by their employer.  A person in receipt of this payment must be available to return to employment.

A person who becomes a carer should apply for carers benefit or the means-test carers allowance.  Further information on these supports is available at www.gov.ie. 

I trust that this clarifies the matter.