News | Latest Breaking News Stories & Headlines

Minister warned on timing of asylum seekers means testing

Welfare Minister Heather Humphreys was warned she was likely to come under attack over why it had taken so long to means test benefit payments for asylum seekers.

Business • 11 Sep 24

A number of changes to the Wage Subsidy Scheme have been announced following a review of the initiative

Wage Subsidy Scheme set to be expanded

The Wage Subsidy Scheme, which offers private sector employers a subsidy to provide employment to people with disabilities, is to be expanded.

Business • 28 Aug 24

Minister Heather Humphreys had said it would be impossible to figure out whether somebody had contracted Covid-19 in work or not

Minister didn't want Covid to be an occupational illness

A government minister vigourously opposed making Covid-19 an occupational illness saying it would be impossible to figure out whether somebody had contracted the disease in work or not.

Business • 27 May 24

Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys today launched the 'Pubs as Community Hubs' initiative

'Pubs as Community Hubs' initiative launched

A pilot programme which will see rural pubs turned into digital hubs, cinemas and book clubs is being rolled out in five counties.

Business • 25 Mar 22

Heather Humphreys said there are now 200 remote working hubs across the country (Stock image)

Plans to subsidise remote working hubs across country

Minister for Rural and Community Development and Social Protection Heather Humphreys said there are now 200 remote working hubs across the country.

Business • 21 Feb 22

The maximum weekly rate of all pensions payments is increasing by €5 this week

New social welfare increases come into effect this week

All social welfare weekly payments will increase this week with the increased payments benefitting an estimated 1.3 million pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and jobseekers.

Business • 01 Jan 22

The PUP is open to new entrants who lose their jobs due to the current Covid-19 restrictions

Cost of Pandemic Unemployment Payment passes €9bn

The Department of Social Protection said it issued weekly payments to 57,603 people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment this week, an increase of 2,267 on last week.

Business • 23 Dec 21

The Department of Social Protection issued weekly payments valued at €25.1m to 97,130 people in receipt of the PUP, down 4,340 compared to the previous week

Numbers on PUP fall below 100,000 for first time

Figures from the Department of Social Protection show that for the first time since the start of Covid-19, the number of people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment has fallen below the 100,000 mark.

Business • 11 Oct 21

Images of journalist Dara Quigley were shared without her consent

Commissioner apology 'restores dignity' of Dara Quigley

The mother of the late journalist Dara Quigley has said an apology from the Garda Commissioner has restored her daughter's dignity which was taken from her, when naked images were shared on social media.

Ireland • 06 Oct 21

Weekly payments valued at €27.5m were given to 106,245 people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment last week

PUP numbers see 33rd weekly fall in a row

New figures from the Department of Social Protection show that the number of people who received the weekly Pandemic Unemployment Payment fell again for the 33rd week in a row.

Business • 28 Sep 21

Students returning to college are no longer entitled to claim the Pandemic Unemployment Payment

PUP numbers fall by over 25,500 on college return

The number of people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) has fallen to 114,600 this week, a drop of 25,526.

Business • 15 Sep 21

Weekly payments valued at €59.8m were made to to 202,152 people in receipt of the PUP last week

PUP numbers at lowest level since March 2020

New figures from the Department of Social Protection show that the number of people getting the Pandemic Unemployment Payment are at the lowest level since early March 2020.

Business • 21 Jul 21

285,265 people received the Pandemic Unemployment Payment this week, a decrease of over 24,000 on last week

Pandemic Unemployment Payment claims at six-month low

The number of people claiming temporary Covid-related jobless benefits fell by 8% to 285,000 this week, its lowest level since December last year, new figures from the Department of Social Protection show.

Business • 09 Jun 21

A total of 460,000 people will receive the Pandemic Unemployment Payment this week

PUP numbers jump by over 15% in the last week

Some 460,000 people will receive the Pandemic Unemployment Payment this week - an increase of over 15% in the last seven days, according to the Department of Social Protection.

Business • 18 Jan 21

All existing arrangements around the recognition of and access to social insurance entitlements will be maintained here and in the UK

Reciprocal welfare continues for Irish and UK citizens

Social security rights and entitlements enjoyed by Irish and British citizens under the Common Travel Area (CTA) will continue uninterrupted from today, the Minister for Social Protection has said.

Business • 01 Jan 21

Social welfare payments for qualified child dependants will increase by €5 for children aged 12 from January

Budget 2021 payment increases to take effect in January

Several Social Welfare payment increases are set to take effect in January as part of measures introduced in the Budget.

Business • 31 Dec 20

The once-off Enterprise Support Grant payment is worth up to €1,000 per person

€6.85m paid out in Enterprise Support Grants so far

A total of 7,412 people have availed of the Department of Social Protection's Enterprise Support Grant since applications were opened in August.

Business • 30 Nov 20

The pension age will be maintained at 66 pending the completion of the Commission's work

Cabinet to discuss establishment of pensions commission

Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys is expected to bring a memo to Cabinet proposing the formal establishment of a Commission on Pensions.

Politics • 03 Nov 20

The Enterprise Support Grant previously supported entrepreneurs who were setting up new enterprises.

New grant to give up to €1,000 to sole traders

Applications have opened for the newly revamped Enterprise Support Grant, designed to assist the self-employed as they get back on their feet following Covid-19.

Business • 14 Aug 20

63,000 PUP recipients have closed their claims in the last week - the largest such figure since the crisis began

Numbers on PUP continue downward trend

The number of people receiving the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment has fallen from 439,000 last week to 412,900.

Coronavirus • 06 Jul 20

Local Enterprise Offices have received three years' worth of applications for the scheme in three months

Trading online voucher scheme to be expanded

A major expansion of the Trading Online Voucher Scheme to help small and micro enterprises to get online quickly has been announced today.

Business • 08 Jun 20

Heather Humphreys said she was putting in place a package of supports for businesses

Concern over businesses not complying with restrictions

Concern has been raised in the Dáil about a lack of enforcement powers for businesses who are not complying with Covid-19 restrictions.

Coronavirus • 30 Apr 20

Heather Humphreys said today's package is a significant step-up in the supports available for all businesses at this very difficult time

€1 billion of supports ready for Covid-19 impacted SMEs

Minister for Business Heather Humphreys has announced further measures to help businesses cope with liquidity challenges posed by the Covid-19 restrictions.

Business • 08 Apr 20

Retail Ireland said there are no issues whatsoever with the supply chain and there is therefore no rationale for people to panic buy

Public urged to avoid bulk buying groceries

The retail industry has reiterated its call to the public to avoid bulk buying groceries.

Business • 16 Mar 20

The extra permits are aimed at addressing staff shortages in areas such as the hospitality sector

Work permit changes to alleviate shortages in sectors

More chefs from outside the country will be eligible for employment permits allowing them to work in Ireland, as a result of changes announced by Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys.

Business • 18 Dec 19