The pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) will be extended for 'months, not weeks', the Government has confirmed.
However, some people who were working part-time when the pandemic began "will see their payments reduced".
The emergency PUP scheme was to due to end on Monday, but ministers have repeatedly said it will continue beyond the initial 12-week plan.
Speaking in the Daíl today, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the Government will make a decision on the extension tomorrow.
Ahead of the Cabinet decision, he said he is able to offer people three assurances for now.
He told the Dáil: "It will be extended for months, not weeks.
"Nobody who was working full time before the pandemic will see their PUP cut. It will stay at €350 per week for those who were working full-time prior to the pandemic hitting.
"Some people who were working part-time will see their payments reduced but their weekly payments will still be more than they were earning on a weekly basis before the pandemic."
The Irish Independent today reported that the pandemic unemployment payment could be cut by 40% (from €350 to €203 per week) for part-time workers.
Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty today told The Pat Kenny Show that there is a need to deal with "anomalies" in the payment.
However, he said that those who have been most severely affected by the pandemic are people on low-pay.
Deputy Doherty pointed to seasonal workers were working part-time before the pandemic but would ordinarily now be working full-time, and suggested that cutting their payments would be the "wrong thing to do for the economy".
