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LAST UPDATE | 6 Jan 2021
SOCIAL PROTECTION MINISTER Heather Humphreys has confirmed that the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) will remain in place at its current rates until at least 31 March.
The proposal was approved by Cabinet this afternoon.
The PUP remains open to new entrants and is paid at four rates – €203, €250, €300 and €350. The rate paid is linked to your prior earnings.
The government originally planned to reduce these rates on 1 February. However, it was previously indicated that this would not happen if the pandemic situation worsened.
Speaking following today’s Cabinet meeting, Humphreys said today’s announcement will “help to avoid unnecessary anxiety and worry both for those workers already in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and also for those who will need to access it as a result of the latest restrictions announced today”.
“When the Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced last March, it was intended to be in place for just a 12-week period.
“As we all know the virus has had a much longer lasting impact both in Ireland and globally that any of us initially anticipated.”
Details of new restrictions were confirmed today for schools, creches, construction, travel and retail.
This week, PUP payments valued at €99 million were issued to 335,600 people, an increase of more than 20% since Christmas week.
Over €5 billion has been paid out in PUP to date since it was introduced in March last year.
The nearly 58,000 increase in claims reflects an increase in the number of workers who have lost their jobs in recent weeks as a result of business closures that followed the tightening of public health restrictions.
The sectors with the highest number of people in receipt of the payment are: accommodation and food service activities (97,798 claimants, up from 74,101 before Christmas); wholesale and retail trade (46,853 up from 40,406) and other sectors like hairdressers and beauty salons (30,221, up from 28,099).
EWSS
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe today announced that the current rates of subsidy provided by the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) will also remain in place until 31 March.
“The government have agreed that additional public health restrictions will be in place for the coming weeks – but it is important that employers have the option of retaining their staff so that they may respond and recover quickly when these temporary restrictions are lifted,” Donohoe said.
He added that nearly €4.5 billion worth of payments have been made via wage subsidies “to sustain businesses and help people to manage financially in the midst of these very challenging times”.
Under plans agreed by Cabinet today, childcare services are to remain open but only for vulnerable groups and children of essential workers, until at least the end of January.
Schools are set to stay closed but Leaving Cert students will attend three days a week. Schools will remain closed until at least the end of the month.
Non-essential construction projects are also set to shut down from Friday evening until the end the month. Construction deemed “essential” includes health projects, schools, social housing and certain other projects.
The click-and-collect exemption for non-essential retailers will also cease.
With reporting by Christina Finn and Órla Ryan
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Nearly there now lads.
Keep doing the right things for a few more weeks and we’re home and hosed , everyone who made it through this pandemic needs to give themselves a pat on the back for making it this far .
@Damo Casey: everyone that hasn’t died in the last 14 months deserves a pat on the back from themselves? Weird.
Also it’s a lot more than a few weeks until it’s over unfortunately.
Open the brothels now!!
@TheBurner: pair of liathroidi’s on yeah down to your ankles
@TheBurner: Ah, the good old days of the 90′s :)
@TheBurner:
You cant open things that were never closed.
Don’t forget to disolve them ‘temporary’ laws lads.
@Jason Walsh: Like all things temporary in this country…..USC too, temporary has a terrible habit of becoming permanent.
If that’s the case then we don’t need the covid emergency powers extended till November, at best they should remain in place till the end of July and be reviewed on a monthly basis from then. We will only be at the end of this covid situation…
@Michael Healy: and have to pass vote after vote to keep them going ? Nonsense . No one says they have to use them . They have them of they need them
@Seán O’Sullivan: Yes but remember when the USC was temporary and only there till things got better and guess what it never went away. I’d prefer them doing something and making sure these rules are voted in each month based on where we are rather than a get out of jail free card for the hse to use when the usual winter nearly on the brink situation kicks off like it’s done for the last 20 years and they have the covid powers as a great reason to cover up the poor management….
1…2…3….SF PBP moaning
@Brian Lyons: even with all the hope and positivity your headspace is occupied by those you don’t like. Sad.
@Brian Lyons: after you.
@Brian Lyons: Sad.
@Brian Lyons: just listened to mary Lou on 6 one, not one moan out of her.
@Brian Lyons: what does PBP and SF have to do with people wondering why some of these rules don’t make sense. I don’t vote for either parties but I think some of the rules with no data or science to back it up is just a head scratcher and doesn’t seem to make sense…but hey if you wanna let political parties live in the head rent free, more fool you
Open the hubs
@Quiet Goer: love a good hub
@Vlad Eire: Can’t best a frosty hint in the hub with the hads and a good hatch.
@Football in the Groin: and a proper sit down feel
Seems to be some genuine optimism all around. Bring it on.
In the mean Mícheál you have vaccinated the 60-69 age group with the most feared vaccine which is only 60% proof and they have another 12 weeks to wait for the 2nd part
@trebloc01: what medical background do you have ?
@trebloc01: Vaccination as many people with 1 vaccine is more of a priority than getting 2 to a small amount of people. 1 offers 70-80%+ protection, which 2 gives you 90%+. Makes more sense to get 1 to lots of people as that will help get heard immunity faster
@Seán O’Sullivan: Maybe you should read the data on A Z and compare it with the others. Moderna, Pfizer and Janssen.Its easy to inform yourself on these matters especially if you are going to make the serious decision of getting a vaccine.
So, just a few more weeks (months, really) to flatten the curve.
So when all the bars & restaurants open July 5th us there a time limit on how long you can stay there…?
@Hear me now: That may be scrapped depending on the numbers remaining stable. That’s my understanding anyway.
@Cian Nolan: thanks Cian…fingers toes & feck I’m even crossing my eyes at this stage there’s no time restrictions.
@Hear me now: 3 days
Hahahaha
More tool you if you believe this. Flip flop flip flop
Good sensible plan. Baby steps the way to go.
What date are the nightclubs opening?
Really miss a camp night out in The George with Whitney and Madonna!
More waffle from the government let’s get real we’re all doomed
Good to hear Live Music on the way back
Any update on the PUP? Will it be extended, reduced, etc.? Because there’s still quite a few unable to return to work
@Stop the Lights: Think that’s going to be next week.
So polling stations can open from July? Election pencilled in before the October Budget.
Can’t wait to sink a pint of guinness.mothers milk
@reginald: make sure the first few are gone through the tap, don’t want that to end in disaster.
Another annoying question ..the non essential travel from the 17th July ..only if your vacinated (fully) ?
@Hear me now: No. A negative PCR test will fit the Green Pass as well.
@Seamus Gallen: thanks Seamus
@Hear me now: or if you have had Covid.
The carrot on the stick
We all know what is within your grasp, Leo’s ball bag
Calling someone a clown is toxic
@Bernard Mc Donnell: hahaha so is saying fo ol
@Derek Anderson: And idi,ot:)
The next 2 weeks are critical
It’s not like Spanish Flu 100 years ago didn’t tell us re opening would happen in June!
@Ciaran McCann: In before Gary reminds you that it isn’t a flu, it is in fact, a very dangerous SARS virus, just another 2 weeks, numbers, look at the UK, etc., etc.
have your say