Sinn Féin and Dublin South West TD Seán Crowe has described the cutting of unemployment supports for those who have lost their jobs as “unacceptable” and said it “would present a massive blow to workers and families who have seen their incomes drastically reduced or collapse as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic”.

Teachta Crowe said that the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment “needs to be flexible and must continue to be paid until the unprecedented need is reduced”.

Teachta Crowe said:

“Since the outbreak of Covid-19, more than 600,000 people have lost their jobs. Workers and families have seen their household incomes collapse and this is a hugely stressful time for people who desperately need certainty and support.

“The Minister for Finance Pascal Donohoe has refused to rule out scrapping or reducing the Pandemic Unemployment Payment after June, and this has caused huge anxiety and additional stress for workers and their families at an already heightened and difficult time.

“As we seek to rebuild the economy in the coming months, we cannot at the same time cut the unemployment supports for those who have already seen their incomes drastically reduced or collapse altogether. This approach will leave even more vulnerable people in dire financial circumstances and makes no economic sense.

“At a time when consumer spending and confidence is at an all-time low and as uncertainty dominates spending decisions, the best thing the government can do at this time is signal some certainty around supports.

“The government needs to confirm that anyone who has lost income as a result of this crisis will not become even worse off again as a result of cuts to income supports. To do that, we need to make it crystal clear that the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment will continue to be paid until the unprecedented need is reduced.”