Paul Murphy: ESRI Report Denounces Planned PUP Cuts
Paul Murphy criticised the government's plan to cut the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), citing an ESRI report he said refutes the government's justification. He warned the cuts would drain money from the economy and create a 'cliff edge' for students who rely on part-time work.
ESRI report findings
The ESRI report, Murphy said, undermines the key justification offered by the government for cutting the PUP and highlighted the potential economic damage of reducing the payment.
Business pressure to cut the PUP
Murphy pointed to months of pressure from business owners, naming Pat McDonagh of Supermax, who argued the PUP was so high it meant workers were better off not working. He said the ESRI findings exposed that claim as untrue.
Risk to students and third-level education
Murphy warned that cutting the PUP would create a cliff edge in September, leaving students who rely on part-time work struggling to find employment and potentially forcing them out of third-level education.
Direct appeal to the Taoiseach
He addressed the Taoiseach directly, saying "T-Shock, it's time to change course," and urged the government to reconsider cuts and to stop what he described as intimidation or shaming of PUP recipients with checkpoints and government propaganda.
Government position and student support
The government said it would extend the PUP from mid-summer out to September and beyond into February of next year, albeit at reduced rates from September onwards. The government defended its approach as unprecedented support for students, saying comments about students were unfair and noting that full-time students had been supported through the pandemic unemployment payment.
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Teachta, the ESRI issued a report which in fact refutes the key justification your government has put forward for cutting the PUP in September. For months we've had to listen to millionaire business owners like Pat McDonagh of Supermax calling for cuts to the PUP and claiming it was so high it meant that workers were better off not working. Yesterday the ESRI report exposed that as simply untrue. In fact they highlighted the major damage that cutting the PUP would have, taking money out of the economy but also the cliff edge that is facing students come September. Those who usually rely on part-time work to pay their way through education will find it very difficult to get work and the government is creating a cliff edge for them potentially forcing them out of third level education. T-Shock, it's time to change course, cutting the PUP, trying to intimidate or shame those in the PUP with checkpoints, with government propaganda is simply not on. Will you reconsider this decision? In terms of the pandemic unemployment payment, the government has decided to extend that from the mid-summer date out to September and beyond into February of next year, albeit at reduced rates from September onwards. I would have to say that the comments in relation to students are not fair. The government has been supportive of students in the context of the application of the pandemic unemployment payment in an unprecedented way. Students, ordinarily full-time students, have never availed of social welfare payments whilst full-time at college. Yet the government, in the context of the pandemic, supported students through the pandemic unemployment payment. And it's been unprecedented and I think it's been very helpful and supportive to students and their families.
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