The Tánaiste has defended the decision not to increase the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) in Budget 2021.
The flat payment of €350 a week was cut in July to better reflect what people were earning before the pandemic began.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar says the scheme was initially created for a 12-week period, but it has been extended given the impact and severity of COVID-19.
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Further reductions of the payment are expected early next year.
However, Leo Varadkar says Budget 2021 does provide for a further extension of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, in case the COVID-19 crisis worsens:
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