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Pandemic Unemployment Payment extended - but some rates will be tapered from 17 September

The wage subsidy scheme will also be extended but the Taoiseach indicated a move away from supports towards greater employment.

THE PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT Payment (PUP) is to be extended until April as part of the government’s July stimulus package.

Cabinet has today signed off on the package, with measures aimed at assisting businesses and getting people back to work.

The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) will also be extended until next spring, but under a new name – the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme. 

The PUP, which is currently being claimed by 313,000 people, will be tapered over time. From 17 September there will be three rates of payment. 

  • For people who previously earned less than €200 per week – €203
  • For people who previously earned between €200 and €300 per week – €250
  • For people who previously earned over €300 per week – €300

The payment rates will be further calibrated in February and April next year to taper back to the standard jobseeker payment of €203 from April 2021.

The PUP and the Wage Subsidy Scheme, which is to be succeeded by an Employment Support Scheme will run until April 2021, after which the taoiseach expects people to return to employment or take up education and training opportunities. 

“This package of measures takes us to a €30 million deficit by the end of the year and obviously we then would like the trajectory of that deficit to be on the downward trend in 2021,” he said in response to a question from TheJournal.ie

“Obviously in relation to the pandemic, it is uncertain and we are learning, the key challenge is to learn to live with Covid and that will be far more complex and difficult than shutdowns and so forth, and we will assess where we are in October as we plan [the budget] for the following year, and assess again in early 2021. 

“What is important is that we continue to keep community transmission as low as possible so that the economy, particularly domestically, can operate at the highest level.

You”ll notice we’re moving away every so gently aware from the support mechanisms to reorientate the economy as well. You’ll see a piece on retrofitting… and above all reskilling. 

“You’ll see more apprenticeships and it’s quite a substantial labour market activation to get young people in particular into work and also to retrain people to secure jobs in new areas that are emerging.”

Speaking after the announcement, Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said:

“Although many people are now returning to work I am acutely conscious that many businesses may not be able to re-open to the same level of activity as they enjoyed before Covid-19. Unfortunately, some may not be able to re-open at all. This is of huge concern to me.

People who lose their jobs and remain unemployed for some time can become disconnected from the labour market. They lose the vital social and work connections that are needed to identify and pursue work opportunities, they find that their past work experience and skills can’t easily translate into new sectors of employment.

“They find employers tend to favour people with recent work experience over those with an employment gap in their CV. We have a responsibility to help them overcome these barriers and to do so we need to invest in our employment, training and education services.”

The government has confirmed the wage subsidy scheme will be available until April next year. The scheme, which currently supports more than 400,000 workers in the Irish economy, will be expanded to include other employees like seasonal workers. 

Launching the stimulus today, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the package “will protect existing jobs while creating new and sustainable employment options in the months and years ahead”.

“These measures will support small and medium businesses, give young people greater opportunities in training and education, support workers who have lost their jobs because of the pandemic and rejuvenate communities worst affected by the economic impact of the virus.

“This is a comprehensive plan which will boost the economy and bring confidence back to towns and villages across Ireland.”

Martin described it as an “unprecedented package” of measures to help stimulate the economy.: “No-one should be in any doubt about the fact we are not returning to pre-March reality,” he said.

“The economic recession is the most rapid and dramatic ever recorded.”

- With reporting by Ian Curran and Conor McCrave.

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    Mute Tweety McTweeter
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    Oct 6th 2019, 1:11 PM

    Non story. He expressed his concerns about some design elements of the proposal. It doesn’t necessarily mean he is against the principal of the development. So what…

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    Mute TamuMassif2019
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    Oct 6th 2019, 1:23 PM

    @Tweety McTweeter: Look at what the builders did to some schools here, many were afraid a strong breeze might knock the front of them down?

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    Mute Irish Spider-Man
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    Oct 6th 2019, 2:04 PM

    @Tweety McTweeter: another two faced Blueshirt

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    Mute Tweety McTweeter
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    Oct 6th 2019, 2:07 PM

    @Irish Spider-Man: Why ?!

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    Mute Pavel Marianski
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    Oct 6th 2019, 2:25 PM

    @Tweety McTweeter: principle

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    Mute Seamus Ryan
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    Oct 6th 2019, 1:21 PM

    I’m surprised he didn’t mention that when FG came into power the country was broke. Seems to be his opening answer to any question I’ve ever heard him asked.

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    Mute Grainnewhale
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    Oct 6th 2019, 1:22 PM

    That’s all very fine but where are the jobs for these people – the roads and public transport are full to capacity.

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    Mute TamuMassif2019
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    Oct 6th 2019, 1:25 PM

    @Grainnewhale: The builders probably came from the North…

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    Mute Shawn O'Ceallaghan
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    Oct 6th 2019, 3:59 PM

    @Grainnewhale: if their buying houses , they probably already have jobs, so at a Minnesota it’s pumping extra cash into clane, driving demand for more services, yes but driving opportunities to provide services too.

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    Mute Grainnewhale
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    Oct 7th 2019, 10:41 PM

    @TamuMassif2019: I’m talking about the people who are going to live in those houses in Clane!

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    Mute Grainnewhale
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    Oct 7th 2019, 10:42 PM

    @Shawn O’Ceallaghan: Not at all they will be heading for Dublin to work!

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    Mute Damon16
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    Oct 6th 2019, 1:41 PM

    Typical NIMBY ism. Either we want affordable housing or not, adding onerous planning regulations to new housing developments 1. increases the costs of the housing that is built and 2. disincentivises the construction of new projects as they are not financially viable at least at a cost that most average people can afford. Well intentioned policies are often the most damaging to ordinary people. The onerous regulations in place for apartment construction for example has meant that it costs more to build them than they can be sold for in many cases for all but the most high end developments.

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    Mute EillieEs
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    Oct 6th 2019, 2:47 PM

    @Damon16: oh I missed where it was mentioned it’s affordable housing. In any event any housing built should be suitable as long term residences where people will want to live and become part of the local community. You seem to be saying it’s ok to just throw anything up anywhere irrespective of design or suitability to a given area. Are you involved in the building trade?

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    Mute Willy Mc Bride
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    Oct 6th 2019, 1:31 PM

    Gotta suit the FFG agenda. Otherwise build somewhere else. ..

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    Mute Den Sullivan
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    Oct 6th 2019, 2:48 PM

    We want more houses .not near me some where else. Built old way with all mod cons but must be cheap as well and add few hundred new rules each year at no cost it all work out

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    Mute TamuMassif2019
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    Oct 6th 2019, 1:24 PM

    Hay at least here they didn’t build in a winter flood zone as they have in other parts of the country?

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Oct 6th 2019, 3:45 PM

    So a local TD represented his constituents over a planning issue. Shock horror. Whats so strange about that. TD’s from all parties have done the same.
    Its about the support services in place for these extra people moving into the area.
    Building housing is great but the ancillary services must be there as well.
    That has happened too many times before

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    Mute Paul Dooley
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    Oct 6th 2019, 4:02 PM

    Was it Liam lawlor or Ray Burke that said ,I have nothing to hide’
    Mr durkin is in that class

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    Mute John Tobin
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    Oct 6th 2019, 10:49 PM

    Light touch regulations and bad designs has people out of their homes at the moment. Here we have a wonderful politician with concerns about the design and other aspects of the project and when he beings it to the attention of the relevant authorities he is slated. You are dammed if you do and dammed if you don’t.

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