Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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187. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to reclassify the pandemic unemployment payment as a permanent payment as with the jobseeker’s scheme and other schemes (details supplied); her further plans to rectify the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22731/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced by my Department as a time-limited, emergency income support measure to deal with the public health crisis and meet the dramatic surge in unemployment as a consequence. This week, payments valued at €68.6 million to 219,900 people issued for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. This represents a decrease of 5,100 on the 225,000 people paid last week and an overall drop of 63% on the 598,000 paid at its peak on 5 May.

Although the economy is gradually reopening at a steady pace the Government is aware that some sectors will be temporarily closed for longer due to continuing Public Health restrictions and has therefore extended the Pandemic Unemployment Scheme until 1st April 2021. However, there are no plans to reclassify the Pandemic Unemployment Payment as a permanent payment as it was developed to cater for exceptional circumstances and will not continue to be paid indefinitely.

The Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) Grant, payable by the Department of Education and Skills, represents the primary support for people pursuing third level education. The matter of supports for students for the forthcoming academic year should be referred to the Department of Education and Skills.

I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.