Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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157. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason workers in the aviation industry on casual contracts due to Covid-19 are not entitled to the pandemic unemployment payment. [12368/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is a statutory income support payment for employees and self-employed people who have lost their employment due to the COVID-19 Public health emergency. The scheme was due to expire on 31st March but Government has agreed to keep it open to new applicants and payments will continue until 30 June 2021. Where a person who was in receipt of the PUP closed their claim to return to work but becomes unemployed again due to COVID-19 they may reapply for PUP.

In cases where a person's working hours have been reduced employees may claim part-time jobseeker payments or Short-Time Work Support payments under Jobseekers Benefit for days of unemployment where they are not being remunerated.

To qualify for a jobseeker’s payment a person must be unemployed for at least 4 days out of 7 consecutive days. Jobseekers Benefit is available to people who have sufficient social insurance contributions paid and satisfy the other qualifying conditions of the scheme. Where a person does not qualify for Jobseekers Benefit they may be eligible for the means tested Jobseekers Allowance scheme.

In the case of a person who was casually employed and receiving a jobseeker’s payment, and subsequently becomes unemployed as a result of the COVID-19 emergency, they may apply for PUP.

Any person who is experiencing financial hardship may apply for support under the means tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, including Exceptional and Urgent Needs payments, depending on an individuals circumstances.

I hope that this clarifies the position for you.