Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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148. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on a press release (details supplied); if the information is correct; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35231/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was introduced as an emergency measure to support qualifying employees and the self- employed who lost employment due to the pandemic.

Government recently announced, as part of the National Economic Recovery Plan, that PUP will be extended beyond 30th June 2021 until February 2022. This is to allow the impact of the lifting of restrictions to take hold and for further sectors to re-open. A transitional approach will be taken with PUP whereby the rates of payment will remain unchanged until September from which time these rates will be gradually reduced over 6 months back to the jobseekers rate of €203. People currently receiving the €203 rate and those who reach the €203 rate in each phase, will then transition to standard jobseeker terms. This will be done over a period of time commencing from this September and with advance notice.

A person who continues to be eligible to PUP during the transition period and who is engaging in self-employment can continue to earn up to €960 over a rolling eight week period and continue to maintain entitlement to PUP.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.