Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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673. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if previous recipients of the pandemic unemployment payment who have returned to work can requalify for the pandemic unemployment payment after 8 July 2021 if their employment ends; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41930/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was an emergency measure introduced in the exceptional circumstances of Covid-19 to help cushion the financial impact on people temporarily laid-off work as a direct result of public health measures mandated by the Government. To date, expenditure on PUP is over €8.6 billion which demonstrates the Government’s clear commitment to support impacted employees.

Since February the number of people who are in receipt of PUP has fallen by over 70% from over 475,000 to just over 143,000 last week. As restrictions are lifted and the economy gradually returns to normal, the need to retain this support therefore diminishes. It is important in the interests of equity and sustainability to restore standard social welfare payments.

The PUP scheme was closed for new applications on 8 July. A person who loses their employment after this date, including those who were previously in receipt of PUP, should apply for a jobseeker payment.

I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.