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No decision yet on how long COVID-19 welfare payments will be extended for

No decision has been made regarding how long the COVID-19 welfare payments will be extended for. ...
Stephen McNeice
Stephen McNeice

18.43 19 May 2020


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No decision yet on how long CO...

No decision yet on how long COVID-19 welfare payments will be extended for

Stephen McNeice
Stephen McNeice

18.43 19 May 2020


Share this article


No decision has been made regarding how long the COVID-19 welfare payments will be extended for.

The Finance Minister says he needs to see how many people return to work during phase one first.

The Government has already acknowledged that the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) and wage subsidy scheme will need to be extended past their initial June expiry date.

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Minister Paschal Donohoe today said he hopes to be able to make an announcement soon.

He said: "We just need some information to be available to us regarding how a reopening of the economy affects the number of people who are on the wage subsidy scheme or the number of people who are availing of the PUP.

"I would hope we'd have more data available into both those issues soon, and then I'll be able to make an announcement regarding the value of these payments and what's going to happen to them."

He emphasised we're still in the first phase of the reopening plan, and that a 'bit of data' is needed to see what the impact of that will be on the different pandemic payments.

The €350 per week pandemic unemployment scheme was initially introduced for a period of 12 weeks, meaning it was set to remain in place until June 8th.

The wage subsidy scheme, meanwhile, has seen the State subsidize up to 85% of employees' wages if the businesses keeps them on payroll.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has previously confirmed they will continue in some form as large sectors of the economy remain closed.

585,000 people are currently receiving the unemployment payment, while over 464,000 people are having parts of their wages paid under the subsidy scheme.

Main image: File photo of Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe. Picture by: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland.

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