Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Employment Affairs and Social Protection Willie O’Dea TD has called on the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to clarify if people who were on a partial Jobseekers payment and lost their jobs are entitled to the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment payment.
Deputy O’Dea said, “Part-time workers receiving a partial Jobseekers payment were led to believe that they would be getting the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment payment of €350 per week, but now the Department has stated that they are only entitled to €203 per week. This is shifting the goal posts and is in my view is deeply unfair.
“Either the Government has not thought through its proposals or Department officials aren’t operating the new proposals in the spirit of how they were drafted. The Minister should seek to immediately clarify the issue and when the government draws up the regulations, it should ensure that this anomaly is rectified and that part-time workers receive the full €350”.
