Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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353. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the pandemic unemployment payment will be phased out in 2021; if so, the way this will be done; the timescale for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25409/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Over €7.5 billion has been paid out on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) since the onset of the pandemic last March which demonstrates the Government’s commitment to supporting workers impacted by restrictions.

As restrictions are eased further over the coming weeks it is expected that an increasing number of people will be in a position to close their PUP claims as their employers re-open and they return to work. For persons who are not yet in a position to return to work, the PUP will continue to be paid at the current rates and will remain open to new entrants until June 30^th.

Government will set out its plans for the future of the PUP post June in the coming weeks, taking account of the trajectory of the virus, progress on the vaccine roll out, progress in terms of people returning to work and the continued impact of the pandemic on the economy over the months ahead.

I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy at this time.