Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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215. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if pandemic unemployment payments will be made to persons over the age of 66; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30393/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The pandemic unemployment payment is payable to people between the ages of 18 up to 66 which is consistent with other social protection schemes payable to people of working age who have lost their employment. People aged 66 years and over are provided for through the contributory State pension or the non-contributory State means tested pension.

A person in receipt of the State contributory pension can retain their entire State pension and employment income. If a person does not have the required number of contributions to receive the maximum rate of State pension contributory they may qualify for an increased rate of State non-contributory pension, depending on their circumstances. People receiving the non-contributory State pension who also have employment income may have their pension payment increased if they lose their employment income due to the pandemic or if it is reduced

People aged 66 and over may also be entitled to ancillary supports which include free travel, fuel allowance, household benefits package for gas or electricity costs and living alone allowance.

A person of any age who is experiencing financial hardship may access assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme including Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments. Information on the supports available under this scheme is available at www.gov.ie.

I hope that this clarifies the position for you.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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216. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if lone parents will retain their income supports (details supplied) and claim the pandemic unemployment payment; if same will continue for the length of time that the pandemic unemployment payment is available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30396/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department, in line with the overall Government response to the COVID-19 pandemic, moved swiftly at the outset of the pandemic to put in place enhanced and new supports for existing customers and new customers who, as a result of COVID-19, are working reduced hours or who have lost their employment entirely – even if on a temporary basis. A decision was taken in March to allow for the payment of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) concurrently with key supports for low income and lone parent families such as the Working Family Payment, One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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217. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will publish operational guidelines for employers ensuring that flexibility is shown to parents with childcare difficulties to ensure that they can continue to receive the pandemic unemployment payment despite being unable to meet the conditions to be available and seeking work, especially for lone parents who are raising children without the support of another parent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30397/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Pandemic Unemployment Payment Scheme is available to employees and self- employed people who have lost their employment and the income from that employment due to the pandemic, and who satisfy the other qualifying conditions of the scheme.

From the outset of Covid-19, many employers will have taken the initiative, in line with requests from the Government, to be as flexible as possible in giving staff time off and working patterns that enable them to look after their children who are not attending school or crèche. 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 caring responsibilities that preclude them from working their normal hours or patterns include allowing employees to work from home, altering shifts or allowing employees to rearrange holidays or parental leave.

While employers cannot in principle be forced to keep paying or to keep in their employment workers who are not available to work for them, Government as well as Trade Unions and employer associations, has been encouraging all employers to be as flexible and supportive as possible in the circumstances with a view to maintaining good employment relationships over the long term. Any employees affected by the lack of childcare are strongly encouraged to engage with their employer in the first instance with a view to exploring all options available to enable them to return to, or continue with, work where possible.

Where a person in these circumstances is not able to avail of another leave or benefit, is not being paid by their employer and they are experiencing financial hardship may be able to access short term support available under the means tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance.

I trust this clarifies the position.