Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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52. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason the seasonal workers who were not in employment by 13 March 2020 remain excluded from the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment in view the fact that the date for applications has been extended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25163/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Pandemic Unemployment Payment has been put on a statutory basis since 5th August and I have announced that the scheme will remain open to new applicants until the end of the year. This means that anyone who loses their employment as a result of the pandemic will continue to be able to avail of the payment. It also means that anyone laid off for a second time will be able to avail of the payment.

A seasonal worker who did not have an opportunity to take up employment may be eligible for employment under the jobseekers schemes. Further information on these supports are available at www.gov.ie.

I trust this clarifies the position.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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54. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the pandemic unemployment payment will continue for third-level students after they enrol for college and university in view of the fact they will still have lost their jobs due to the pandemic; if so, if this will affect a grant they may be receiving; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22607/20]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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527. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if third-level students awarded the SUSI grant who can no longer return to their part-time jobs continue to receive the pandemic unemployment payment. [22657/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 527 together.

As announced under the July Stimulus, the COVID-19 pandemic unemployment payment has been extended until the end of March 2021. I have recently secured agreement of Government to keep the payment open to new applications until the end of 2020.

To be eligible for the pandemic unemployment payment a person must have become fully unemployed due to the downturn in economic activity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and he or she is not being paid by their employer. A self-employed person must have suffered a reduction in their income to the extent they are available to take up other full time work if it was available. Any person in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment, including a student, must continue to satisfy the conditionality of the scheme.

The Back to Education Allowance has recently been extended as part of the July Stimulus in response to Covid-19. Ordinarily a person must be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for at least nine months before being eligible to apply for the scheme when pursuing a third level qualification. This nine month condition is now being waived for recipients of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment seeking to return to education. A person in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is required to apply for a jobseeker payment to access the Back to Education Allowance.

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 and its administration is a matter for that Department.

I trust this clarifies the position at this time.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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55. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the engagement she has had with the Revenue Commissioners in determining a person's eligibility and pay rates for the pandemic unemployment payment. [25011/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The rate of the pandemic unemployment payment is determined by a person’s prior earnings as notified to my Department by the Revenue Commissioners. My Department does not engage with the Revenue Commissioners in determining a person's individual eligibility but makes this determination on the basis of analysing the information available, except in isolated cases where a record requires clarification.

Government has determined that from 17 September the pandemic unemployment payment will be paid at three rates. Individuals whose prior earnings were €300 or over per week will receive a payment of €300 per week. A rate of €250 will apply to those who earned between €200 and €300 and the rate of €203 remains unchanged for those with prior earnings of less than €200. The Department is advising recipients of the changes in rate and setting out the basis for the decision in each case.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.