Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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245. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the maximum weekly rates of payments applying to the pandemic unemployment payment at various dates in 2021 further to her announcement of the extension of the deadline for new applicants to apply for the pandemic unemployment payment; and her plans to alter these rates or applicable dates. [41017/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I secured Government approval, last week, to keep the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) scheme open to new applicants until the 31st March next year. 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 will ensure workers are eligible to apply for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment again if they lose employment in the coming months if further Covid-19 restrictions have to be imposed.

PUP is currently payable at four different rates depending on an individual's prior earnings. It is payable at €203 per week where the prior average weekly earnings were under €200. For those with average weekly earnings of between €200 and €299.99, the PUP rate is €250. For those with average weekly earnings of between €300 and €399.99, the PUP rate is €300 while those with average weekly earnings of €400 or more qualify for a PUP rate of €350.

The Government will continue to keep all aspects of the PUP under review and decisions will be informed by the trajectory of the pandemic and the evolving public health situation.

I trust that this clarifies the position at this time.