Helen McEntee Gives An Update On Pandemic Unemployment Pay As Ireland Begins Third Lockdown

The Justice Minister has confirmed that the pandemic unemployment payment will not be cut at the end of January.

The PUP, which is claimed by tens of thousands of people, was originally intended to be lowered by the end of next month after Ireland emerged from its second lockdown in December.

But as the country plunged into another shutdown following a brutal third wave of the virus, Helen McEntee said the date will be pushed back.

She was speaking within hours after Taoiseach Micheal Martin announced that the entire country would be subject to Level Five restrictions.

When asked if she would confirm that the payment will not be reduced, Ms. McEntee said: “Absolutely. I have that commitment from our Ministers and the Government yesterday.

“The EWSS (Wage Subsidy Scheme) will remain in effect until the end of March, I think that is the schedule we have now.

“The PUP had to be reduced and changed at the end of the month, that will not happen now.

“And the CRSS, which is the new payment that was implemented for companies that essentially the Government asks them to close, and obviously with yesterday’s announcement that it will be a significant number, which of course will be maintained.”

Ms. McEntee also moved to assure parents that schools are a safe environment, but that they were given a little extra time to ensure that as many people as possible could return in the new year.

She told RTE’s Morning Ireland: “The reason we have extended the school vacation period is that it provides, and most importantly for staff and students in schools, the opportunity to be at home and obviously limit their movements. .

“And I think also the fact that we’ve seen a lot of people isolate themselves, restricting their movements if they were potentially close contact. So that little bit of extra time to allow, I guess, people to restrict their movements and have so many people back. and as many people in working condition as possible.

“Tony Holohan and his team at NPHET have emphasized at every point and in every letter we’ve received over the past few months that schools are safe, and the facts clearly point to that.”

Ms. McEntee said that it is the full intention of the Government to reopen the schools on January 11, but that everything is in constant review.