Government planning to phase out PUP from September

Coalition is reluctant to begin immediately cutting payment for 334,000 workers

The PUP has cost a total of €7.6 billion since it was introduced last March, with around 334,000 people currently receiving it

Government ministers are discussing plans to start phasing out the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) from September, as the economy gradually reopens.

There are concerns that the continued existence of the payment of up to €350 a week may make it harder for hotels, pubs and restaurants to attract back some staff when they reopen during the next two months.

Ministers expect that the PUP, which had been due to expire on June 30, will be ...