Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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532. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if social care students that are forced to give up part-time work in order to complete their placement which is unpaid will be eligible to apply for the pandemic unemployment payment. [25629/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is available to employees and self-employed who have lost their employment as a direct consequence of the pandemic and who satisfy the qualifying conditions of the statutory scheme.

In order to qualify for the support, a person must have ceased to earn an income and lost their employment as a direct consequence of Covid-19.  This can include as a consequence of the adverse effects of Covid-19 on the business of their employer and the adverse effects of measures required to be taken by their employer to comply with, or as a consequence of, Government policy to prevent, limit, minimize or slow the spread of infection.

If a social care student satisfies the provisions of this legislation, then PUP will be payable.

If the Deputy has a specific case, he should provide the details to the Department for review. I trust that this clarifies the position.