Planned cuts to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be deferred, according to the Social Protection Minister.
The rates of the payment had been due to fall for some people from February 1st.
But that's now likely to be deferred due to the introduction of Level Five restrictions, according to Minister Heather Humphreys:
The minister says she has to get agreement from Cabinet, but she hopes that the cuts will not happen until the end of March: "My hope is that the PUP will continue at the current rate until the end of March.
"I will have to consult with my Government colleagues.
"But my view at this stage is that given the current rate of the virus, the current rate of the PUP should continue until the end of March.
"We can review it again then at that stage, depending on the numbers of the virus."
