With the postponement of indoor dining, the Government has confirmed that the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme will be extended.
Originally, the PUP scheme was not going to be accepting any new applicants after June 30. Now, new applications can be made until July 7.
The Government has said that the decision was made given “the associated risk of pandemic-related losses of employment among people who have just returned to work in anticipation of businesses re-opening next week.”
The deferral of indoor dining and drinking means that thousands of people due to close their social welfare accounts will now need to continue accessing benefits.
Over 16,000 people came off the PUP scheme last week, many in anticipation of returning to work on Monday. People whose jobs have been affected by the postponed reopening now have an extra week to reapply.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said that the tourism and hospitality industries, in particular, have carried a "disproportionate" burden.
Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said: "I know much of the summer is now lost, but we can work on this together to allow us to open your sectors and keep them open."
"For those businesses that are still closed, we will provide support. For those who were told to come back to work (and now can’t), the re-entrance to the PUP will be open again," he said.
Around 228,000 people received a Covid-19 PUP payment this week.
As part of the Government’s National Recovery Plan the PUP scheme will continue for those already getting the payment.
The current PUP rates will stay the same until September, and then gradually reduce.
