Southside TD: ‘No cuts or changes to PUP while pandemic continues to impact on jobs and income’

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett has said that there can be no cuts or changes to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment whilst the Covid pandemic continues to impact on jobs and income.

The Dún Laoghaire TD made his comments on the day before people’s ability to apply for the PUP is set to expire.

Speaking on the tapering off of the payment, he said:

“The Pandemic Unemployment Payment has been an absolutely vital lifeline for people whose jobs and income have been decimated by the pandemic.

“People working in hospitality, events, music and the taxi industry, to name but a few areas, have had their incomes effectively removed by the shutdown of their employments.

“For the government to cut or change the PUP and people’s ability to apply for it is totally nonsensical when they have no idea how the pandemic will play out.

“With different variants arising and with the situation we can see unfolding in the UK, it is utterly irresponsible to cut or change the PUP.

“We should not be relying on arbitrary dates, rather we should continue to support people who, through no fault of their own, have had their incomes hammered. We need to maintain the PUP until the pandemic is over.”