Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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322. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a health worker that was in receipt of €600 to €700 per week that has had to stand down due to a Covid-19 contact can avail of a Covid-19 support payment; the level of payment at which they can avail; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30203/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Under the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 (No. 1), the Government, having regard to the manifest and grave risk to human life and public health posed by the spread of COVID-19, extended the Social Welfare Acts to provide for entitlement to illness benefit for persons who have been diagnosed with, or are a probable source of infection with COVID-19.

The personal rate of payment of the enhanced Illness Benefit payment in respect of COVID-19 is €350, which is higher than the normal maximum personal rate of illness benefit. Additional payments may also be made in respect of a qualified adult and qualifying children. The measures were designed to ensure that where a registered medical practitioner or a HSE medical officer diagnoses a person with COVID-19 or identifies him or her as a probable source of infection of COVID-19, the person concerned can comply with medical advice to isolate, while having their income protected. This is essential to limit and slow down the spread of the virus, to keep the number of people affected to a minimum, and to reduce a peak of cases which would cause extreme pressure on the health system.

The enhanced rate of Illness Benefit was brought in as a short-term public health measure and is not a long-term income support payment. It is payable for 2 weeks where a person is isolating as a probable source of infection of COVID-19 and for up to 10 weeks where a person has been diagnosed with COVID-19. There are no waiting days in respect of the enhanced illness benefit payment.

From the outset of COVID-19, many employers have taken the initiative, in line with subsequent requests from the Government, to be as flexible as possible in allowing staff time off where required. Employers have a general duty of care towards their workers and that care is often expressed in the form of negotiation, compromise and flexibility. Some of the options to be considered for workers with responsibilities that preclude them from working their normal hours in the normal, pre-COVID-19, may include:

- offering paid compassionate leave,

- allowing employees to work from home,

- altering shifts, so that employees can co-ordinate caring between themselves and partners, or another person,

- allowing employees to take or rearrange annual leave,

- allowing employees to rearrange parental leave,

- allowing employees to take paid time off that can be worked back at a later time etc,

- allowing employees to take unpaid leave until they can return to work full or part-time.

In the event of an employee being told by their employer to go home or stay at home for a period of time without pay they may be entitled to claim the Pandemic Unemployment Payment or Jobseeker's Benefit/Allowance. If they are not eligible for those payments, then they may apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance.

I trust that this clarifies the matter.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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323. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 who is in receipt Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment is eligible to take up a free Springboard course and keep their payment at the same time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30211/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Applicants in receipt of the COVID Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) who apply for part time or full time springboard courses can retain a weekly social welfare payment if they transfer to a qualifying payment. This will ensure that these Springboard applicants will have an alternative income source on cessation of PUP.

In advance of commencing a course of education, a person in receipt of PUP will be required to establish an entitlement to a qualifying social welfare weekly payment, generally a Jobseeker’s payment.

A person will be required to transfer from PUP to the relevant qualifying social welfare scheme to continue to receive income support while availing of full-time education provision.

The qualification period will be deemed to have been met for a person transferring from PUP. This means someone applying for 2^ndor 3^rdlevel will be deemed to have satisfied the required qualification period when they transfer from PUP.

Should the person concerned wish to avail of a Springboard course, she should contact Ballymun Intreo Centre at tel: 01 8940000 or email at to advise them accordingly and to request a transfer of her payment from PUP to the relevant Jobseeker’s payment. Her entitlement to a qualifying Jobseeker’s payment must be established before commencing her course of study.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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324. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if persons returning to work after Covid-19 have a period during which secondary benefits are retained and in particular, the length of time rent supplement can be retained. [30293/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Rent supplement continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme currently supporting 18,984 active recipients.

The scheme provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The scheme ensures that those who were renting, but whose circumstances have changed due to temporary loss of employment or income, can continue to meet their rental commitments.

Where entitlement of rent supplement is lost, a person will continue to receive rent supplement for a period of up to 30 days or until they receive their first wage / salary payment reflecting their new employment conditions, whichever is the earlier.

Notwithstanding the timing of the customer's restored income, the general rule for secondary benefits is that they cease once the customer has secured full-time employment. It is possible, depending on the customer's circumstances and level of earnings, that a portion of their rent supplement may be retained. If the Deputy wishes to provide the particulars of any case they have in mind, a tailored response can be provided for the customer in question.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.