Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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476. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if those who are currently in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment as a result of their employment being closed due to level 5 restrictions will still have an entitlement to the payment if they return to the workforce as the country exits level 5 restrictions on 1 December 2020 and the business is forced to close again in the new year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39771/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Since its introduction on the 15^thMarch in response to the global covid-19 pandemic, expenditure on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment has amounted to some €4 billion.

I am happy to confirm to the Deputy that I have secured the agreement of Government to keep the scheme open for new applicants until the 31st March 2021. The Deputy will recall that following a Government decision in September, the scheme had been due to close for applications at the end of this year. The extension to the closing date means that workers will be able to apply for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment if they lose employment in January in the event that further Covid-19 restrictions have to be introduced.

I trust that clarifies the position for the Deputy.