Future of Covid-19 welfare payments set to be revealed

• News Home
• More from Coronavirus

Thursday, May 21st, 2020 10:28am

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Messenger
• Share on Messenger
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Whatsapp

The future of the Covid-19 welfare payments will be known by the end of next week. 

The pandemic unemployment payment and wage subsidy scheme are due to expire next month. 

Almost 40% of people claiming the unemployment payment are financially better off than they were when in employment. 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says they're working on tidying up the scheme.

"We'll have that sorted out by the end of May, we'll know how long were extending it to.

"Secondly we will try and deal with this issue of people getting more than they were earning prior to the pandemic, but I wouldn't envisage people being worse off."

More from Coronavirus

• Majority of people are sticking to Covid-19 travel guidelines this week according to a Garda sergeant

  It's after 400 people were fined €100 euro each for breaking the 5km travel limit in the space of a week. 

• COVID19 UPDATE: 61 New Deaths, 2,488 New Cases - 314 here in Cork

  The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 61 additional deaths related to COVID-19.

• Taoiseach says zero-COVID strategy won't work due differing rules here and in Northern Ireland

  The Taoiseach says a zero-COVID strategy won't work because of the differing rules here and in Northern Ireland. 

• Cork man speaks out about the impact of COVID19 on those living with sight loss

  A Cork man who is visually impaired says the pandemic has presented a number of challenges for blind people and has robbed them of their sense of touch which they rely on to move around safely.

• Calls made for tightening of restrictions

  A GP says it's time to go back to April style restrictions with only one person allowed go for essential shopping.

• Education Minister says they've met all teachers union requests

  The Education Minister says her Department has met all the teachers unions requests to try and get children with special needs back to school.

• Calls for teachers to receive vaccine as a priority

  A Cork parent of a child with special needs is calling for teachers to receive the Covid 19 vaccine as a priority.

• Level 5 restrictions set to continue into February

  The Public Expenditure Minister has indicated Level 5 restrictions will not be lifted at the end of this month.

• Special Schools Will Not Open This Week After The Government Was Forced To Abandon The Plan

  The Department of Education says the decision was down to "a lack of co-operation" from teacher unions.

• HSE Boss: Teams Under 'Unrelenting Strain' In Hospitals And The Community Due To Covid 19

  Paul Reid says anyone who dismisses the seriousness of the illness is spreading 'nonsense,' which he says is insulting to patients, staff and their families.

• COVID19 UPDATE: 93 New Deaths, 2,001 New Cases - 204 here in Cork

  The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 93 additional deaths related to COVID-19.

• EU urges all member states to have 70% of population vaccinated by summer

  The EU is urging every country to have 70% of its population vaccinated against Covid-19 by the summer.