Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

441. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which the appropriate level of pandemic unemployment payment continues to remain available to qualified applicants; if the list of qualified applicants is or can be extended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5769/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) scheme was introduced as a statutory scheme from the 5th August.  To date the total cost of the scheme is approximately €5.5 billion.

To be eligible for the PUP a person must satisfy all of the scheme conditions which include that they must be of working age and have lost their employment as a consequence of the pandemic or in the case of a self employed person their trading income must have ceased or reduced to €960 or less over a rolling 8 week period due to COVID-19.

Where a person does not meet the eligibility conditions for PUP they may apply for a range of alternative income supports depending on their individual circumstances which can include jobseeker’s payments, pension, illness and caring related schemes. 

Any person who is experiencing financial hardship may be eligible for other financial supports under the means-tested supplementary welfare allowance scheme including an Exceptional or Urgent Needs payment where the need is demonstrated.  Information on the supports available under this scheme is available at www.gov.ie.

There are no plans to extend the eligibility requirements of the PUP scheme at this time. 

I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.