Roscommon-Galway TD Claire Kerrane has said that the full Pandemic Unemployment Payment must be reinstated to provide a vital safety net during Level 3.
Deputy Kerrane called for the government to bring back the full PUP as concerns grow about the impact of further public health measures on jobs.
The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland has warned that 50,000 pub jobs are at risk of being lost.
The Sinn Féin TD said that last month, she warned last month that cutting the PUP then was premature and short-sighted.
“Thousands of people across the State have lost their jobs due to the pandemic and through no fault of their own,” said Deputy Kerrane.
“They are under huge financial pressure, yet at the same time the Government is cutting back the vital supports they rely on.
“I know from the Household Debt survey I undertook that families and workers across the state are experiencing acute anxiety and distress as they watch their debt pile up, without any prospect of finding a new job.”
The Roscommon-Galway TD, who is the party’s spokesperson on Social Protection, said that she is ‘deeply concerned’ by possible further job losses as a result of the country moving to Level 3 restrictions.
“I am once again calling on the Government to reinstate the full PUP of €350 per week, to ensure workers and families can keep afloat financially in these unprecedented times.
“Sadly, it appears likely that as a society we will need to live with varying forms of lockdown restrictions for the foreseeable future.
“Failing to provide workers with a vital safety net in these circumstances is indefensible. The Government must act now to reverse PUP cuts.”
