Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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134. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the Covid-19 supports in place for aviation cabin crew; the length of time these supports will remain in place; if there are plans to extend or expand these supports including by the introduction of a German-style support scheme or a scheme which supports workers in their transition back to full-time employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25448/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 134 together.

The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP)  is a statutory support for employees and self- employed who have lost their work due to Covid 19.  This support is available to people affected across all sectors, including those in aviation. 

The PUP scheme will remain available until 30th June.  Government will set out plans for the future of the PUP post June over 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.

The Department’s main social welfare schemes for people who are unemployed are the social insurance contribution-based Jobseeker's Benefit and means tested Jobseeker's Allowance.  Both schemes provide support to individuals, including cabin crew in the aviation sector, so that they can work up to 3 days a week and still retain access to a reduced jobseeker’s payment.

Jobseeker's Benefit support is paid for up to 9 months (or 234 days) for people with 260 or more PRSI contributions paid.  It is paid for up to 6 months (or 156 days) for people with fewer than 260 PRSI contributions paid.  Where a person exhausts their entitlement to Jobseeker's Benefit, they may be eligible for support under the means tested Jobseeker's Allowance scheme and this information is communicated to recipients.

As the impact of the pandemic on the economy evolves over the coming weeks and months, supports will continue to be reviewed and developed as appropriate, including those available to employers to support job retention and help both workers and employers where demand for a firm’s services or products is reduced for an extended period of time.  In the consideration of any new supports, international best practice, including the German style scheme referred to, will be taken into account.

I trust that this clarifies the position at this time.